TY - JOUR
T1 - Foot Structure and Function in Habitually Barefoot and Shod Adolescents in Kenya
AU - Aibast, Herje
AU - Okutoyi, Paul
AU - Sigei, Timothy K.
AU - Adero, Walter
AU - Chemjor, Danny
AU - Ongaro, Neford
AU - Fuku, Noriyuki
AU - Konstabel, Kenn
AU - Clark, Carol
AU - Lieberman, Daniel E.
AU - Pitsiladis, Yannis
N1 - This is not the final version. The final published version can be found at doi: 10.1249/JSR.0000000000000431
PY - 2017/11/1
Y1 - 2017/11/1
N2 - Habitually barefoot (HB) children fromthe Kalenjin tribe of Kenya are known for their high physical activity levels. To date, there has been no comprehensive assessment of foot structure and function in these highly active and HB children/adolescents and link with overuse injuries. Purpose: The aim of this research is to assess foot structure, foot function, injury and physical activity levels in Kenyan children and adolescents who are HB compared with those who were habitually shod (HS). Methods: Foot structure, function, injury prevalence, and physical activity levels were studied using two studies with equal numbers of HS and HB. HS and HB children and adolescentswerematched for age, sex, and body mass. Foot arch characteristics, foot strength, and lower-limb injury prevalencewere investigated inStudy1 (n = 76). Heel bone stiffness, Achilles tendon moment arm length and physical activity levels in Study 2 (n=62). Foot muscle strength was measured using a strength device TKK 3360 and heel bone stiffness by bone ultrasonometry. The moment arm length of the Achilles tendon was estimated from photographs and physical activity was assessed using questionnaires and accelerometers. Results: Foot shortening strength was greater in HB (4.8 T 1.9 kg vs 3.5 T 1.8 kg, P G 0.01). Navicular drop was greater in HB (0.53 T 0.32 cm vs 0.39 T 0.19 cm, P G 0.05). Calcaneus stiffness index was greater (right 113.5 T 17.1 vs 100.5 T 116.8, P G 0.01 left 109.8 T 15.7 vs 101.7 T 18.7, P G 0.05) and Achilles tendon moment arm shorter in HB (right, 3.4 T 0.4 vs 3.6 T 0.4 cm, P G 0.05; left, 3.4 T 0.5 vs 3.7 T 0.4 cm, P G 0.01). Lower-limb injury prevalence was 8% in HB and 61%in HS. HB subjects spentmore time engaged inmoderate to vigorous physical activity (60 T 26 minIdj1 vs 31 T 13 minIdj1; P G 0.001). Conclusions: Significant differences observed in foot parameters, injury prevalence and general foot health between HB and HS suggest that footwear conditions may impact on foot structure and function and general foot health. HB children and adolescents spent more time engaged inmoderate to vigorous physical activity and less time sedentary than HS children and adolescents
AB - Habitually barefoot (HB) children fromthe Kalenjin tribe of Kenya are known for their high physical activity levels. To date, there has been no comprehensive assessment of foot structure and function in these highly active and HB children/adolescents and link with overuse injuries. Purpose: The aim of this research is to assess foot structure, foot function, injury and physical activity levels in Kenyan children and adolescents who are HB compared with those who were habitually shod (HS). Methods: Foot structure, function, injury prevalence, and physical activity levels were studied using two studies with equal numbers of HS and HB. HS and HB children and adolescentswerematched for age, sex, and body mass. Foot arch characteristics, foot strength, and lower-limb injury prevalencewere investigated inStudy1 (n = 76). Heel bone stiffness, Achilles tendon moment arm length and physical activity levels in Study 2 (n=62). Foot muscle strength was measured using a strength device TKK 3360 and heel bone stiffness by bone ultrasonometry. The moment arm length of the Achilles tendon was estimated from photographs and physical activity was assessed using questionnaires and accelerometers. Results: Foot shortening strength was greater in HB (4.8 T 1.9 kg vs 3.5 T 1.8 kg, P G 0.01). Navicular drop was greater in HB (0.53 T 0.32 cm vs 0.39 T 0.19 cm, P G 0.05). Calcaneus stiffness index was greater (right 113.5 T 17.1 vs 100.5 T 116.8, P G 0.01 left 109.8 T 15.7 vs 101.7 T 18.7, P G 0.05) and Achilles tendon moment arm shorter in HB (right, 3.4 T 0.4 vs 3.6 T 0.4 cm, P G 0.05; left, 3.4 T 0.5 vs 3.7 T 0.4 cm, P G 0.01). Lower-limb injury prevalence was 8% in HB and 61%in HS. HB subjects spentmore time engaged inmoderate to vigorous physical activity (60 T 26 minIdj1 vs 31 T 13 minIdj1; P G 0.001). Conclusions: Significant differences observed in foot parameters, injury prevalence and general foot health between HB and HS suggest that footwear conditions may impact on foot structure and function and general foot health. HB children and adolescents spent more time engaged inmoderate to vigorous physical activity and less time sedentary than HS children and adolescents
U2 - 10.1249/JSR.0000000000000431
DO - 10.1249/JSR.0000000000000431
M3 - Article
SN - 1537-890X
VL - 16
SP - 448
EP - 458
JO - Current Sports Medicine Reports
JF - Current Sports Medicine Reports
IS - 6
ER -