Protocol for evaluating the effects of a therapeutic foot exercise program on injury incidence, foot functionality and biomechanics in long-distance runners: a randomized controlled trial

Autor(es)

Matias, Alessandra B. ^[1] ; Taddei, Ulisses T. ^[1] ; Duarte, Marcos ^[2] ; Sacco, Isabel C. N. ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Dept Phys Therapy Speech & Occupat Therapy, Rua Cipotanea, 51 Cidade Univ, BR-05360160 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Fed Univ ABC, Biomed Engn, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: BMC MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS; v. 17, APR 14 2016.
• Citações Web of Science: 3

Resumo

Background: Overall performance, particularly in a very popular sports activity such as running, is typically influenced by the status of the musculoskeletal system and the level of training and conditioning of the biological structures. Any change in the musculoskeletal system's biomechanics, especially in the feet and ankles, will strongly influence the biomechanics of runners, possibly predisposing them to injuries. A thorough understanding of the effects of a therapeutic approach focused on feet biomechanics, on strength and functionality of lower limb muscles will contribute to the adoption of more effective therapeutic and preventive strategies for runners. Methods/Design: A randomized, prospective controlled and parallel trial with blind assessment is designed to study the effects of a ``ground-up{''} therapeutic approach focused on the foot-ankle complex as it relates to the incidence of running-related injuries in the lower limbs. One hundred and eleven (111) healthy long-distance runners will be randomly assigned to either a control (CG) or intervention (IG) group. IG runners will participate in a therapeutic exercise protocol for the foot-ankle for 8 weeks, with 1 directly supervised session and 3 remotely supervised sessions per week. After the 8-week period, IG runners will keep exercising for the remaining 10 months of the study, supervised only by web-enabled software three times a week. At baseline, 2 months, 4 months and 12 months, all runners will be assessed for running-related injuries (primary outcome), time for the occurrence of the first injury, foot health and functionality, muscle trophism, intrinsic foot muscle strength, dynamic foot arch strain and lower-limb biomechanics during walking and running (secondary outcomes). Discussion: This is the first randomized clinical trial protocol to assess the effect of an exercise protocol that was designed specifically for the foot-and-ankle complex on running-related injuries to the lower limbs of long-distance runners. We intend to show that the proposed protocol is an innovative and effective approach to decreasing the incidence of injuries. We also expect a lengthening in the time of occurrence of the first injury, an improvement in foot function, an increase in foot muscle mass and strength and beneficial biomechanical changes while running and walking after a year of exercising. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 15/14810-0 - Biomecânica e aspectos funcionais do sistema musculoesquelético de corredores: efeito crônico de exercícios terapêuticos e do envelhecimento
• Beneficiário: Isabel de Camargo Neves Sacco
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático
• Processo FAPESP: 14/27311-9 - Efeitos de um programa de fortalecimento do pé na ocorrência de lesões e na biomecânica do complexo do tornozelo e pé em corredores fundistas: um ensaio clínico controlado e randomizado
• Beneficiário: Alessandra Bento Matias
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Mestrado