Changes in mophology and function of toe flexor muscles are related to training footwear

INTRODUCTION Without scientific proof but driven by experience and intuition barefoot training is commonly used by coaches and athletes for both injury prevention and performance enhancement (Pinnington 2001). Due to geographic and climatic circumstances not everywhere in the world it is practically possible to train barefoot, e.g. outdoors on grass, the whole year through. Therefore it can be hypothized that an especially designed training shoe with a multiple segmented outsole, mimicking barefoot movements and allowing barefoot-like exercises on hard surfaces, could induce different mechanical stimuli on foot and shank muscles. A biopositive adaptation should be advantageous in terms of injury prevention or performance enhancement. The purpose of this study was to identify an eventual training and adaptation effect in morphology and function on foot and lower leg muscles when wearing such a specifically designed training shoe.