Reeves K A, Corbett J, Barwood M J
Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK -
J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2015 Oct;55(10):1107-13. Epub 2014 Jul 7.
Barefoot running can improve running economy (RE) compared to shod running at low exercise intensities, but data is lacking for the higher intensities typical during many distance running competitions. The influence of barefoot running on the velocity at maximal oxygen uptake (vVO2max) and peak incremental treadmill test velocity (vmax) is unknown. The present study tested the hypotheses that barefoot running would improve RE, vVO2max and vmax relative to shod running.
Using a balanced within-subject repeated measures design, eight male runners (aged 23.1±4.5 years, height 1.80±0.06 m, mass 73.8±11.5 kg, VO2max 4.08±0.39 L·min(-1)) completed a familiarization followed by one barefoot and one shod treadmill running trial, 2-14 days apart. Trial sessions consisted of a 5 minute warm-up, 5 minute rest, followed by 4×4 minute stages, at speeds corresponding to ~67, 75, 84 and 91% shod VO2max respectively, separated by a 1 minute rest. After the 4th stage treadmill speed was incremented by 0.1 km·h(-1) every 15 s until participants reached volitional exhaustion.
RE was improved by 4.4±7.0% across intensities in the barefoot condition (P=0.040). The improvement in RE was related to removed shoe mass (r2=0.80, P=0.003) with an intercept at 0% improvement for RE at 0.520 kg total shoe mass. Both vVO2max (by 4.5±5.0%, P=0.048) and vmax (by 3.9±4.0%, P=0.030) also improved but VO2max was unchanged (p=0.747).
Barefoot running improves RE at high exercise intensities and increases vVO2max and vmax, but further research is required to clarify the influence of very light shoe weights on RE.
与穿跑鞋跑步相比，赤足跑步在低运动强度下可提高跑步经济性（RE），但对于许多长跑比赛中常见的较高强度，相关数据尚缺。赤足跑步对最大摄氧量速度（vVO2max）和递增式跑步机测试峰值速度（vmax）的影响尚不清楚。本研究检验了以下假设：相对于穿跑鞋跑步，赤足跑步能改善RE、vVO2max和vmax。
采用平衡的受试者内重复测量设计，8名男性跑步者（年龄23.1±4.5岁，身高1.80±0.06米，体重73.8±11.5千克，VO2max为4.08±0.39升·分钟-1）先进行适应性训练，之后进行一次赤足和一次穿跑鞋的跑步机跑步试验，两次试验间隔2 - 14天。试验环节包括5分钟热身、5分钟休息，随后是4个4分钟阶段，速度分别对应约67%、75%、84%和91%的穿跑鞋VO2max，各阶段间休息1分钟。在第4阶段后，跑步机速度每15秒增加0.1千米·小时-1，直至参与者达到自觉疲劳。
在赤足状态下，各强度的RE提高了4.4±7.0%（P = 0.040）。RE的改善与去除的鞋质量有关（r2 = 0.80，P = 0.003），当总鞋质量为0.520千克时，RE改善率为0%。vVO2max（提高4.5±5.0%，P = 0.048）和vmax（提高3.9±4.0%）也有所改善，但VO2max未变（P = 0.747）。
赤足跑步在高运动强度下可改善RE，并提高vVO2max和vmax，但需要进一步研究来阐明极轻鞋重对RE的影响。
