Background: Running on sand could be a promising exercise intervention for the treatment of over-pronated feet. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the effects of running on sand on muscle activities. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the long-term effects of running on sand on the activities of selected lower limb muscles in individuals with OPF compared with healthy controls.

Methods: Sixty recreational adult male runners with over-pronated feet (foot posture index > 10) were divided into two equal groups (intervention and control). Participants ran barefoot at a pre-defined speed (⁓3.3 m/s) over level stable ground both before and after long-term training on the sand. Muscle activities were recorded using a surface bipolar electromyography system.

Results: For the intervention group, we found a reduced foot posture index (p < 0.001; d = 2.00) and significant group-by-time interactions for gluteus medius activity during the mid-stance phase (p < 0.028; d = 0.59). Significantly higher gluteus medius activity (p = 0.028, d = 0.569) was found during the post-test. We also observed significant group-by-time interactions for medial gastrocnemius activity during the push-off phase (p < 0.041; d = 0.54). Significantly larger medial gastrocnemius activity (p = 0.041; d = 0.636) was found during the post-test compared to the pre-test.

Conclusions: Long-term running on sand resulted in reduced pronation, increased medial gastrocnemius activity, and improved frontal plane pelvic stability due to higher gluteus medius activity.

Trial Registration: IRCT20191211045704N1. Registered 25 February 2020. Retrospectively registered.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8627070PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12938-021-00955-8DOI Listing

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