INTRODUCTION:
In the last few decades the number of participants in the popular endurance races has increased,especially for athletes in the category of veterans (over 35 years), as well as the number of organized events.
OBJECTIVE:
To analyze the foot strike patterns in veteran runners with respect to an increase of speed and fatigue.
METHODS:
Participation of 43 athletes, 40 men (mean age: 41.3±1.10 years old) and 3 women (mean age: 44.3±3.17 years old). After warm-up, three running protocols were performed: comfortable pace, competition pace and competicion pace until the increase two values of the Borg scale, freely chosen by each athlete. Foot strike patterns (contact surface, lateral rotation and tilting of the foot) and a time sequence were analyzed by high-speed video.
RESULTS:
84.5% of the athletes had rearfoot, increasing with the speed and fatigue. Among 52.7% of the athletes had mild external rotation and 69% had mild lateral tilt. No relationship was found between athletes, either with or without lesions in the foot strike patterns on the three race protocols. The contact time was higher in rearfoot regarding the rest of the types of foot strike patterns in comfortable running and competition pace.
CONCLUSION:
The findings of this study may be relevant for the design of athletic shoes and contribute information on the relationship between the foot strike patterns of the veteran runner and the risk of injuries.
athletes; running; athletic injuries
