Effects of running-induced fatigue on plantar pressure distribution in novice runners with different foot types

• Fatigue has different effects on plantar loading in runners due to foot types.
• Altered plantar pressure pattern due to fatigue may contribute to running injuries.
• Fatigue shifted the load to the lateral side of the foot in high arch runners.
• Fatigue transferred the load to the medial side of the foot in low arch runners.

This study aimed to assess the effects of running-induced fatigue on plantar pressure parameters in novice runners with low and high medial longitudinal arch. Plantar pressure data from 42 novice runners (21 with high, and 21 with low arch) were collected before and after running-induced fatigue protocol during running at 3.3 m/s along the Footscan® platform. Peak plantar pressure, peak force and force-time integral (impulse) were measured in ten anatomical zones. Relative time for foot roll-over phases and medio-lateral force ratio were calculated before and after the fatigue protocol. After the fatigue protocol, increases in the peak pressure under the first-third metatarsal zones and reduction under the fourth–fifth metatarsal regions were observed in the low arch individuals. In the high arch group, increases in peak pressure under the fourth–fifth metatarsal zones after the running-induced fatigue was observed. It could be concluded that running-induced fatigue had different effects on plantar pressure distribution pattern among novice runners with low and high medial longitudinal foot arch. These findings could provide some information related to several running injuries among individuals with different foot types.