Footwear changes patellofemoral contact loadings during heel-toe running

Changes in sagittal knee moments and patellofemoral contact force have been linked to the risk of patellofemoral pain(PFP). Previous studies proved that there were different loading patterns of knee joint with different foot strike patterns and surface cushioning conditions. Currently, few studies demonstrated the effect of shoe conditions on patellofemoral contact force. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different shoes (minimalist vs cushioned shoes) on sagittal plane kinematics and kinetics of the knee.The study suggested that shoe conditions could change knee joint loadings even in the same foot strike pattern. Specifically, heel-toe runners in minimalist shoes demonstrated lower peak patellofemoral contact force and stress than in cushioned shoes.