Effects of Combined Foot/Ankle Electromyostimulation and Resistance Training on the In-Shoe Plantar Pressure Patterns during Sprint in Young Athletes

Abstract

Several studies have already reported that specific foot/ankle muscle reinforcement strategies induced strength and joint position sense performance enhancement. Nevertheless the effects of such protocols on sprint performance and plantar loading distribution have not been addressed yet. The objective of the study is to investigate the influence of a 5-wk foot/ankle strength training program on plantar loading characteristics during sprinting in adolescent males. Sixteen adolescent male athletes of a national training academy were randomly assigned to either a combined foot/ankle electromyostimulation and resistance training (FAST) or a control (C) group. FAST consisted of foot medial arch and extrinsic ankle muscles reinforcement exercises, whereas C maintained their usual training routine. Before and after training, in-shoe loading patterns were measured during 30-m running sprints using pressure sensitive insoles (right foot) and divided into nine regions for analysis. Although sprint times remained unchanged in both groups from pre- to post- training (3.90 ± 0.32 vs. 3.98 ± 0.46 s in FAST and 3.83 ± 0.42 vs. 3.81 ± 0.44 s in C), changes in force and pressure appeared from heel to forefoot between FAST and C. In FAST, mean pressure and force increased in the lateral heel area from pre- to post- training (67.1 ± 44.1 vs. 82.9 ± 28.6 kPa [p = 0.06]; 25.5 ± 17.8 vs. 34.1 ± 14.3 N [p = 0.05]) and did not change in the medial forefoot (151.0 ± 23.2 vs. 146.1 ± 30.0 kPa; 142.1 ± 29.4 vs. 136.0 ± 33.8; NS). Mean area increased in FAST under the lateral heel from pre- to post- (4.5 ± 1.3 vs. 5.7 ± 1.6 cm(2) [p < 0.05]) and remained unchanged in C (5.5 ± 2.8 vs. 5.0 ± 3.0 cm(2)). FAST program induced significant promising lateral and unwanted posterior transfer of the plantar loads without affecting significantly sprinting performance. Key pointsWe have evaluated the effects of a foot/ankle strength training program on sprint performance and on related plantar loading characteristics in teenage athletes, and this have not been examined previously.Our results showed no significant pre- to post- changes in sprint performance.This study revealed initially a lateral transfer and secondly a posterior transfer of the plantar loads after the foot/ankle strength training program.

Keywords: Track and field; injury prevention; medial arch; reinforcement.

Figures

Figure 1.

Illustration of the training procedure for both FAST and control groups. During the experimental procedure, both groups performed their usual training (9 sessions a week). In addition, the FAST group underwent a 5-week electromyostimulation (NMES) and resistance training (RT).

Figure 2.

Regions of interest at the foot were masked to the size of the Pedar insole (Groupmask Evaluation, Novel GmbH, Munich, Germany). The regions consisted of the following: M1 medial heel, M2 lateral heel, M3 medial midfoot, M4 lateral midfoot, M5 medial forefoot, M6 central forefoot, M7 lateral forefoot, M8 hallux and M9 lesser toes.

Figure 3.

Mean and standard deviation mean pressure (kPa) during sprinting in each of the nine areas of interest for experimental group before and after foot/ankle strength training (FAST). Abbreviations: Pre, before foot/ankle strength training; Post, immediately after foot/ankle strength training.

Figure 4.

Mean and standard deviation mean force (N) during sprinting in each of the nine areas of interest for experimental group before and after foot/ankle strength training (FAST). Abbreviations: Pre, before foot/ankle strength training; Post, immediately after foot/ankle strength training.