Screening of foot defects, deformities, and diseases among endurance runners: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Design: This is a cross-sectional study. Background: There was not a study in the past which exclusively defines and reports foot defects, deformities, and diseases among barefoot and shod endurance runners. Methods: Participants were added by snowball sampling method after fulfilling inclusion criteria as barefoot runners (n = 80), shod runners (n = 80), and healthy collegiate nonrunners (controls n = 80) from Dakshina Karnataka, India. Outcome Measures: Foot deformities, foot defects, and diseases were identified using valid tools. Results: All foot defects, deformities, and diseases for three groups were identified and analyzed by one-way ANOVA which revealed a significant difference in the foot defects, deformities, and diseases (P < 0.01). Type of running, duration of running, and foot type were associated with the foot defects, deformities, and diseases in each group at 95% confidence interval. Conclusion: This study concluded that there exists a significant difference in foot defects, deformities, and diseases between three groups and found a strong association between specific type of running, duration of running, and foot type with the foot defects, deformities, and diseases. Hence, this study alarms runners, coaches, and shoe manufacturers to work on strategies to prevent all foot problems reported among runners.