康复学报 (Oct 2022)
Progress on Foot Assessment and Training to Prevent Running-related Injuries
Abstract
Running is one of the most popular recreational sports activities and a commonly recommended sport in clinical rehabilitation. With the increasing demand and awareness of public fitness, the sports injury caused by improper running is also increasing, and it is important to improve the risk assessment and preventive intervention of running-related injury (RRI). RRI refers to a variety of lower limb and lower back discomfort that occurs during running practice or as a result of running, and affects the running activity. Among runners, the incidence of RRI is high and it is easy to relapse, and thus, applying effective preventive assessment tools and interventions is beneficial to reducing the incidence of RRI in potential populations. The current RRI prediction is mostly based on the past injury, incorrect posture and overwork factors, and in most of the time, it does not have a clear, intuitive numerical prediction of the occurrence probability of RRI. Predicting RRI by foot assessment is common, and related assessment tools and methods continue to appear, among which foot posture index (FPI-6) and plantar pressure assessment are currently widely used. By evaluating the structure and function of the runners' feet before running, and carrying out relevant training for the feet before and during running, the occurrence of RRI can be prevented and reduced, and it provides a basis for the scientific development of running training plan. This paper summarizes the common RRI foot assessment tools and reviews the current common foot intervention strategies for preventing RRI in the aspects of foot muscle training, foot strike pattern and pre-run adaptive training etc. It puts forward that runners can take RRI risk assessment before starting the running training plan and strengthen the weak parts of foot with reference to the neutral position FPI-6, plantar pressure distribution and arch form; runners can take a period of muscle strength training before increasing the intensity of running each time, and pay special attention to foot core muscle group training. For runners lack of ankle mobility and strength, the rear foot strike pattern is recommended, and runners with knee or calf injuries can choose the fore and mid foot strike patterns.
