This study aimed at comparing shock absorption during gait while walking barefoot, tennis shoes and military boots. Twenty healthy soldiers without neurologic or musculoskeletal disorders were evaluated. Subjects walked 10 meters along a straight and level walkway at a comfortable speed in barefoot condition and using tennis shoes and military boots. Two force platforms (Bertec, EUA) were placed in serial at the middle of the walkway used to measure the ground reaction forces (GRF). The kinematic system (Qualysis, Sweden) was used to measure gait speed in each test condition. The first peak of force (FPF) of the vertical component of the GRF, time to reach to FPF (T_FPF), transient impact peak force (IPF) were evaluated and the weight acceptance rate at 10% to 30%, 30% to 50%, 50% to 70%, 70% to 90% and 10% to 90% of FPF. T_FPF was 1 s shorter (p < 0.0001), as well as IPF and weight acceptance rate at 10% to 30% in barefoot was higher (p < 0.0001, both) than tennis shoes and military boots gait patterns. None statistical difference was found in the others analyzed variables, even as in the tennis shoes and military boots comparisons. The analyzed footwear delayed the FPF impact during gait, reduce the IPF and the weight acceptance phase during 10% to 30% of FPF, being efficient in reduce impact forces during gait.
Ground reaction force; Weight acceptance rate; Footwear; Biomechanics
