Distribution of foot load in a group of people with femoroacetabular impingement recreationally practising long-distance running.

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this work was to assess the effect of a conservative therapeutic intervention on the changes in the foot load distribution in people with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome practising long-distance running. Methods: The study involved 44 men, aged 30 to 50 years, practising long-distance running. Two rounds of tests were conducted in the Laboratory of Biokinetics of the AWF in Kraków. The first measurements were carried out in January 2020, and the second ones - after a 6-month therapeutic intervention in July 2020. The measurements of the distribution of foot pressure on the ground in static conditions and during barefoot running were performed with the use of the FOOTSCAN 7.111 podobarographic platform. Parameters showing the distribution of pressure in the individual foot areas and the trajectory of force distribution during the contact of feet with the ground were measured. Results: After the completion of the physiotherapy protocol, the FAI group differed significantly from the n-FAI group in relation to the Max F range in the areas of the first, fourth and fifth metatarsal bones, and as far as the impulse in the areas of the first, fourth, and fifth metatarsal bones and in the big toe area. Conclusions: A comparison of the results of the first and second run of tests showed more positive changes in the FAI group than in the n-FAI group. This demonstrates a favourable effect of the conservative physiotherapy protocol in people with FAI - it can be an effective alternative to the surgical treatment.