Last blog we went over the different causes of intoeing in
kids. Now we review what intoeing means for athletes.
Studies have shown that low to normal thigh-foot angles and intoeing
while sprinting correlate with sprinting ability. Meaning, if your anatomy is
such that your thigh-foot angle is low and makes you prone to intoeing and you
continue to intoe while you sprint, you may be a better sprinter than those who
don’t! Or, you may just be overcoming your anatomy and sprinting well despite
your intoeing. It is hard to say which the case is. Have observational studies
shown more sprinters who do well because they are pigeon-toed, or do sprinters
just happen to have some pigeon-toers who sprint well? Usain Bolt has been
noted not to intoe while sprinting. Andre Agassi and Michael Jordan, two
athletes who have excelled in sports that require lateral movement (i.e. tennis
and basketball) are pigeon-toed. Biomechanically speaking, lateral movement is
easier when done with toes turned inward. Is this the case with sprinting?
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| Violet can't figure out if her rain/snow boots make her intoe more or not. She runs pretty fast in them! |
The theory to explain the mechanism based on biomechanics
and physics from the leading exercise physiologists goes something like this –
runners land on the outside of the foot and roll their foot inward from
heel-strike to toe-off. People with intoeing have less of this maneuver because
they already land partially rotated due to their anatomy. They have less give
in the foot and ankle joint when they strike, and the stiffer foot means less
energy is absorbed and more energy is dissipated. Running speed is increased
when an athlete’s body has the capacity to handle the impact of the forces that
occur when the foot strikes the ground, forces that are 3 to 6 times bodyweight.
A stiffer foot enables the athlete to absorb these forces and quickly accelerate
in the opposite direction.
Some folks propose that intoeing, associated with having
flat feet (pes planus) and bow legs, may lead to being faster, but it also
leads to more ankle, knee, and hip injuries. The theory being that intoeing
feet don’t cushion the force, so even though they are faster, the
musculoskeletal system incurs the consequences of that impact. A recent
literature review actually showed that there is a low association between pes
planus and lower extremity musculoskeletal injury. I haven’t found anything
that directly reviewed intoeing with lower extremity injuries, but since the
theory is based on the association between intoeing and pes planus, I think we
can safely say that there is low evidence to support it. So, dream on, athletes,
for those pigeon-toes.
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| Violet checking out a runner's gait and trying to decide if they are hyperpronating or not. There's a lot less entertainment during winter jogging stroller runs because fewer people and fewer animals are out. Why aren't they as crazy as us, sweet girl? |
References
Budt et al. The relationship between foot posture and lower
limb kinematics during walking: A systematic review. Gait Posture. 2013
Jul;38(3):363-72.
Feigenbaum et al. The association of foot arch posture and
prior history of shoulder or elbow surgery in elite-level baseball pitchers. J
Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2013 Nov;43(11):814-20.
Fuchs R and Staheli L. Sprinting and Intoeing. Journal of
Pediatric Orthopaedics. July/Aug 1996: 16;4 – 489-491.
Tong et al. Association between foot tye and lower extremity
injuries: systematic literature review with meta-analysis. J Orthop Sports Phys
Ther. 2013 )ct;43(10):700-14.
Zafiropoulos et al. Flat food and femoral anteversion in
children—a prospective study. Foot (Edinb). 2009 Mar;19(1):50-4.
