The Effects of Uncushioned Minimal Shoes on Ankle Kinematics During Running: A Systematic Review

Uncushioned minimal shoes may alter kinematics of ankle while running. This study aimed to systematically review the studies investigating ankle kinematics in runners while wearing uncushioned minimalist shoes. Four databases including PubMed (۱۲۸ studies), Web of Science (۲۲۴), Scopus (۲۴۲ studies) and Embase (۱۴۸ studies) were searched from inception to Oct ۹ ۲۰۲۲. Two reviewers screened studies to identify studies reporting the effect of running in uncushioned minimal shoes on kinematics of the ankle. Nine studies with the total of ۱۶۷ participants and ۱۸ controls (۸ participants wearing minimal shoes without gait training and ۱۰ wearing standard shoes) were included. The study design of the included studies were RCTs (۲ studies), prospective study (۱), cross-sectional study (۶). The Downs and Black appraisal scale was applied to assess the quality of included studies. The results showed that minimal shoe was capable of changing the kinematics of ankle while running. Uncushioned minimal shoes decreased ankle dorsiflexion at initial contact and ankle adduction , and increased plantarflexion moment, strike index, total ROM and joint excursion in stance phase compared to traditional shoes. Standardizing shoes and speeds are needed for reliable comparisons among studies. Because most studies examining the efficacy of minimal shoes, had a low level of evidence, further studies providing valid, high-quality evidence which include RCTs are required to support clinical practice in the use of minimal shoes. Uncushioned minimal shoes are better replicating barefoot running. Therefore, it is recommended for runners since they can change their foot strike pattern to mid-foot or forefoot and consequently reduce peak impact force, resulting in preventing future injuries especially in the knee.