Abstract
The type of surface used for running can influence the load that the locomotor apparatus
will absorb and the load distribution could be related to the incidence of chronic
injuries. As there is no consensus on how the locomotor apparatus adapts to loads
originating from running surfaces with different compliance, the objective of this
study was to investigate how loads are distributed over the plantar surface while
running on natural grass and on a rigid surface—asphalt. Forty-four adult runners
with 4 ± 3 years of running experience were evaluated while running at 12 km/h for 40 m wearing standardised running shoes and Pedar insoles (Novel). Peak pressure, contact
time and contact area were measured in six regions: lateral, central and medial rearfoot,
midfoot, lateral and medial forefoot. The surfaces and regions were compared by three
ANOVAS (2 × 6). Asphalt and natural grass were statistically different in all variables. Higher
peak pressures were observed on asphalt at the central (p < 0.001) [grass: 303.8(66.7) kPa; asphalt: 342.3(76.3) kPa] and lateral rearfoot (p < 0.001) [grass: 312.7(75.8) kPa; asphalt: 350.9(98.3) kPa] and lateral forefoot (p < 0.001) [grass: 221.5(42.9) kPa; asphalt: 245.3(55.5) kPa]. For natural grass, contact time and contact area were significantly greater
at the central rearfoot (p < 0.001). These results suggest that natural grass may be a surface that provokes lighter
loads on the rearfoot and forefoot in recreational runners.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 30, 2009
Accepted:
July 25,
2008
Received in revised form:
July 11,
2008
Received:
March 22,
2008
Identification
Copyright
© 2008 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
