Assessment of female joggers and nonjoggers forefo ot loading pattern during pushoff phase Ocena wpływu biegów rekreacyjnych na wzorzec obciąŜania przodostopia w fazie odbicia

Introduction: The distinctive modes of human locomotion are walking and its faster form running. The basic feature of gait cycle, the successive phases of swing and stance, is common for walking and running, however, they differ in the time proportions of the gait cycle phases and the characteristics of the acting forces. Research suggests, that the motor behavior of the foot can be changed as a result of longterm training of differ ent movement patterns. Hence, it can be assumed that longterm training of running gait can induce adaptive changes in the walking pattern. The research project: Analysis of the impact of recreational jogging on female forefoot loading pattern change. Materials and methods: The research included 96 women aged between 20 and 50 years, including 50 female joggers (the Re� search Group) and 46 nonjoggers (the Control Group ). Women who met the study criteria from both groups were assembled randomly from Cracow residents and its surroundings. The research was performed on an EMEDSF force pl atform. The foot was divided into 10 masks according to Cavanagh, for which three parameters of their time of their loading were assessed. On the basis of these parameters the duration of each subphase of the stance phase was calculated. The magnitude and the area of maximum forces acting during the pushoff phase wer e also found. Results: For the female runners group when compared with the Control Group the following differences were observed: exten� sion of the left forefoot pushoff phase, higher ma ximum forces during the pushoff phase for both fee t; and a more frequent greater loading of the lateral than the central forefoot for the left feet. Conclusions: Our results seem to indicate the effect of running training on a permanent change in the forefoot loading pattern manifested during free walking. The analysis suggests more dynamic changes in the forefoot loading pattern on the left side .