Triceps surae metabolic energy consumption in rearfoot and mid-/forefoot strikers

Differences in ankle joint work between foot strike patterns may influence Triceps Surae (TS) muscle metabolic energy consumption and hence whole body metabolic energy consumption. Here, we used a dynamic optimization approach to estimate muscle forces, lengths and activations of 43 lower limb muscles during the stance phase of 8 habitual rearfoot strike (RFS) and 10 habitual mid- or forefoot strike (FFS) runners at 10 and 14 km/h. From these muscle states we then computed muscle metabolic energy consumption using three different models. No differences in TS metabolic energy consumption between foot strike patterns, regardless of the used model, were detected (p > 0.19). Moreover, the ratio of metabolic energy used by the TS relative to whole body metabolic energy consumption was not different between foot strike patterns. Hence, our results suggest that no energetic benefit exists between foot strike patterns.