(39) THE EFFECTS OF MINIMALIST FOOTWEAR ON ANAEROBIC PERFORMANCE AND STABILITY

BACKGROUND: The majority of the research done on minimalist footwear (MFW) has analyzed aerobic key performance indicators. Research has shown that MFW can increase foot strength and improve running economy via a shorter stride length and a reduction in support time. However, the effects of MFW on anaerobic performance and stability are relatively unknown.

Purpose: This study’s purpose was to analyze the effects of MFW compared to regular running shoes (RS) in terms of rate of force development, peak power, change of direction, and stability.

Methods: Eighteen Male Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) Division 1 athletes were recruited. Minimalist footwear was provided by Xero Shoes and was the HFS model. A randomized crossover design was used, and each participant was assigned a group. Group one tested with MFW during the first session and then tested with RS during the second session. Group two did the opposite, they used RS in the first session and MFW in the second session. Each testing session was one week apart. Before every testing session, the athletes did the normal warm-up they routinely do before practice and then began a testing battery. The testing battery consisted of a Biodex stability assessment (BSA), a 5-10-5 Pro-Agility (PA), a modified T-Test (MTT), a vertical jump (VJ), and an explosive deadlift at 1 times bodyweight (DL). A paired samples T-test was used to compare the differences between MFW and RS using JASP.

Results: Significant differences during the BSA were found between forward (F) MFW and RS (47.33 ± 23.89) and (62.94 ± 17.18) respectively (p = 0.01). Significant differences were also found in forward left (FL) between MFW and RS (56.94 ± 17.35) and (45.17 ± 17.52), respectively (p = 0.02). No statistically significant difference between time, overall, backward, right, left, forward right (FR), backward right, and backward left was found for the BSA. No statistically significant differences were found between the PA and MTT. Significant differences were found for peak force in the second trial of the right foot during the VJ (p = 0.04). However, none of the other VJ trials had a significant difference in peak force or rate of force development. There were also no statistically significant differences in peak force during the DL. However, on average MFW did produce a higher peak force than RS (1235.27 ± 311.81) and (1119.18 ± 213.77) respectively.

Conclusions: In the F portion of the BSA, the RS condition performed better than the MFW condition, this could be potentially attributed to the heel-to-toe drop in the RS already causing a slight forward lean. This theory falls apart upon examining the FL data in which the MFW condition performed superiorly and the FR data where there was no difference. The differences shown in the DL and VJ, but not the PA or the MTT, may show that MFW has more of an effect on traditional strength and power movements than on change of direction and agility drills. Minimalist shoes may not make a difference in anaerobic performance and stability immediately, perhaps a long-term intervention would show more differences. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The differences in peak force but not speed and agility may show that MFW has a place in the weight room but not the field. However, due to the lack of difference in performance between RS and MFW coaches can choose based on their personal preferences or let their athletes decide.

Acknowledgements: Minimalist footwear was provided by Xero shoes. The model provided was the HFS. No other funding was provided other than the shoes.