title: Maximalist vs. minimalist shoes: dose-effect response of elastic compression on muscular oscillations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to establish whether maximalist shoes engender fewer muscular oscillations than minimalist shoes and determine to what extent these shoes, when combined with elastic compression (EC), help reduce muscle oscillations. For that purpose, we tested the effects of various levels of compression on the muscular oscillations in maximalist and minimalist footwear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven volunteers executed 16 one-minute passages on a flat treadmill in a randomized order: maximalists or minimalists, walking (6 km/h) or running (10 km/h), without EC (control condition [CON]) or with EC applying different pressures (9.6 mmHg, 14.5 mmHg and 20.4 mmHg). The muscular oscillations were measured on both thighs, on the rectus femoris and on the vastus medialis with tri-axial accelerometers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Muscular oscillations are lower in maximalist shoes than in minimalist shoes, for both walking to 6 km/h and running to 10 km/h (P<0.05). Oscillations are also reduced with EC (P<0.05). This decrease is most marked when the pressure exercised by the EC is increased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased compression with minimalist shoes reduces muscular oscillations as much as maximalist shoes, when combined with lower compression.
authors.affiliation: UFR Sciences et Montagnes, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, Bourget du Lac, France.
authors.forename: Jules
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gellaerts
authors.affiliation: UFR Sciences et Montagnes, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, Bourget du Lac, France.
authors.forename: Maxime
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pirard
authors.affiliation: UPFR des Sports, Université de Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.
authors.forename: Jessie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muzic
authors.affiliation: UPFR des Sports, Université de Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.
authors.forename: Maxime
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peseux
authors.affiliation: UE 3920 Marqueurs Pronostiques et Facteurs de Régulation des Pathologies Cardiaques et Vasculaires Plateforme Exercice Performance Santé, Innovation, Université de Franche-Comté, Besançon, France - arnaud.menetrier@laposte.net.
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ménétrier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D011312:Pressure; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D012775:Shoes; D016138:Walking; D055815:Young Adult