page_title: Locomotor effects of shoes
section_title: Foot strike patterns
hierarchical_section_title: Locomotor effects of shoes / Barefoot (unshod) / Foot strike patterns
caption_attribution_description: A woman wears Vibram "Five Fingers" shoes.
context_page_description: Locomotor effects of shoes are the way in which the physical characteristics or components of shoes influence the locomotion neuromechanics of a person. Depending on the characteristics of the shoes, the effects are various, ranging from alteration in balance and posture, muscle activity of different muscles as measured by electromyography, and the impact force. There are many different types of shoes that exist, such as running, walking, loafers, high heels, sandals, slippers, work boots, dress shoes, and many more. However, a typical shoe will be composed of an insole, midsole, outsole, and heels, if any. In an unshod condition, where one is without any shoes, the locomotor effects are primarily observed in the heel strike patterns and resulting impact forces generated on the ground.
context_section_description: Barefoot runners run very differently from typical shod runners.  Shod runners tend to heel strike due to the designs of the modern shoes, which have thick heels to reduce the impact force from the ground.  When running barefoot, however, some runners tend to shift to a forefoot striking pattern to avoid such impact, which is equivalent to 2-3 times the body weight.  The forefoot strike is where the forefoot lands first, followed by the heels coming down.  The midfoot strike is characterized by the heel and the ball of the foot landing at the same time, and heel strike is where the heel lands first followed by the forefoot.
caption: Vibram FiveFingers Shoes.
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