Role of Minimalist Footwear on Stability, Change of Direction, and Force Production: A Randomized Crossover Trial
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63750/w0pndm42Keywords:
Minimalist Shoes, Anaerobic Performance, Sports Performance , AgilityAbstract
The purpose of the present study was to examine the acute effects of minimalist footwear (MFW) on participants’ ability to stabilize, change direction, and produce force. A randomized crossover design was used. Eighteen subjects participated. Participants tested in MFW and traditional running shoes (RS) and were randomly assigned an order. The protocol included a warm-up, limits of stability assessment, pro-agility test, modified t-test, countermovement, and isometric mid-thigh pull. No significant differences were found (p<0.05), and the effect sizes were trivial to small. For the limits of stability assessment, time (ES = 0.350) and backward (ES = 0.229) had small effect sizes with MFW performing better and right had a small effect size (ES = 0.287) with RS performing better. Every other variable for the limits of stability had a trivial effect size. For the pro-agility assessment there was a small effect size (ES = 0.429) with MFW performing better. For the modified t-test assessment there was a small effect size (ES = 0.411) with MFW performing better. For the countermovement jump, every variable had a trivial effect size. For the isometric mid-thigh pull, peak force (ES = 0.216), time to peak force (ES = 0.316), and rate of force development 0 – 50 ms (ES = 0.246) had a small effect size. Rate of force development 0 – 100 ms had a trivial effect size with MFW performing better. In conclusion, this indicates that MFW may not acutely influence stability and may positively influence change of direction and force production.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Logan Allen, Justin Kilian (Author)
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