title: Injuries observed in a prospective transition from traditional to minimalist footwear: correlation of high impact transient forces and lower injury severity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Minimalist running is increasing in popularity based upon a concept that it can reduce impact forces and decrease injury rates. The purpose of this investigation is to identify the rate and severity of injuries in runners transitioning from traditional to minimalist footwear. The secondary aims were to identify factors correlated with injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen habitually shod (traditional running shoes) participants were enrolled for this prospective study investigating injury prevalence during transition from traditional running shoes to 5-toed minimalist shoes. Participants were uninjured, aged between 22-41 years, and ran at least twenty kilometers per week in traditional running shoes. Participants were given industry recommended guidelines for transition to minimalist footwear and fit with a 5-toed minimalist running shoe. They completed weekly logs for identification of injury, pain using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), injury location, and severity. Foot strike pattern and impact forces were collected using 3D motion analysis at baseline, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks. Injuries were scored according to a modified Running Injury Severity Score (RISS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen runners completed weekly training and injury logs over an average of 30 weeks. Twelve of 14 (86%) runners sustained injuries. Average injury onset was 6 weeks (range 1-27 weeks). Average weekly mileage of 23.9 miles/week prior to transition declined to 18.3 miles/week after the transition. The magnitude of the baseline impact transient peak in traditional shoes and in minimalist shoes negatively correlated with RISS scores (r = -0.45, p = 0.055 and r = -0.53, p = 0.026, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High injury rates occurred during the transition from traditional to minimalist footwear. Non-compliance to transition guidelines and high injury rates suggest the need for improved education. High impact transient forces unexpectedly predicted lower modified RISS scores in this population.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Orthopaedics , Tufts Medical Center , Boston , MA , USA.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Salzler
authors.affiliation: b Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Massachusetts General Hospital , Boston , MA , USA.
authors.forename: Hollie J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kirwan
authors.affiliation: b Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Massachusetts General Hospital , Boston , MA , USA.
authors.forename: Donna M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Scarborough
authors.affiliation: b Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Massachusetts General Hospital , Boston , MA , USA.
authors.forename: James T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: c Center for Interprofessional Studies and Innovation , Massachusetts General Hospital , Boston , MA , USA.
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Guarino
authors.affiliation: b Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Massachusetts General Hospital , Boston , MA , USA.
authors.forename: Eric M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Berkson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012420:Running / Q000293:injuries*; D012775:Shoes; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Minimalist; biomechanics; impact; injury; running; shoes