Does running experience influence static and dynamic measures of foot function?

Abstract

Fewer years of running experience and a more pronated foot type are common risk factors associated with medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS). These risk factors are thought to contribute to earlier fatigue of the antipronatory foot muscles, greater foot pronation, increased tibial loading and MTSS development (Boer et al., 2023). Following a half marathon race, the feet of 30 runner’s (median age: 35 years) were significantly more pronated (p< 0.001) than pre-race (Cowley & Marsden, 2013). Conversely, novice (21 ± 1 years) runners displayed no difference in foot pronation compared to competitive (22 ± 4 years) runners after a fatiguing protocol (Maas et al., 2018). Age is reported to influence foot posture (Redmond et al., 2008), and runners aged 31–40 years have a higher prevalence of MTSS than those aged <30 years (Boer et al., 2023). It is, therefore, necessary to assess factors that could contribute to MTSS, such as running experience and foot function, in the cohort primarily at risk.