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Int J Sports Med 2016; 37(05): 401-404
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1569349
Clinical Sciences
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Metabolic Differences Between Shod and Barefoot Walking in Children

S. P. Shultz
1   School of Sport and Exercise, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
,
S. D. Houltham
1   School of Sport and Exercise, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
,
S. M. Kung
1   School of Sport and Exercise, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
,
P. Hume
2   Institute of Sport and Recreation Research New Zealand, AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand
,
P. W. Fink
3   School of Sport & Exercise, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History



accepted after revision 23 November 2015

Publication Date:
02 February 2016 (online)

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Abstract

Footwear affects the biomechanics of children’s gait; however, there has been less research addressing the energetics of walking with and without shoes. This study investigated the effects of barefoot and shod walking on metabolic parameters in children. 25 children (9.7±1.4 years) walked at a self-selected pace for 5 min on an instrumented treadmill under 2 footwear conditions (barefoot, running shoe). Vertical oscillations of centre of mass were calculated from ground reaction forces. Expired gases were collected in the last minute of each trial. Paired t-tests revealed significantly higher oxygen consumption (17.6±2.5 ml.kg−1.min−1 vs. 16.3±3.1 ml.kg−1.min−1), energy expenditure (3.25±0.86 kcal.min−1 vs. 2.97±0.68 kcal.min−1), and economy (298.2±47.5 ml.kg−1.km−1 vs. 275.9±56.9 ml.kg−1.km−1) during the shod condition. There was no difference in substrate utilization between conditions. The barefoot condition elicited a smaller centre of mass vertical displacement (1.24±0.14 cm vs. 1.34±0.17 cm). At a natural walking speed, barefoot walking is more economical than shod walking at the same velocity in children. The higher energy cost of shod walking should be considered when evaluating the use of footwear by children.

Key Words

physiology - paediatrics - footwear - gait
 

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