†These authors contributed equally.
Background: This study aimed to investigate the plantar
loads of male non-rearfoot strike runners running on different overground
surfaces at their preferred speeds. Methods: A total of 32 male runners with non-rearfoot
strike were required to run for 15 m on concrete, synthetic rubber and grass
surfaces at their preferred speeds. An insole sensor system was used to determine
the runners’ foot strike pattern and measure peak pressure, pressure-time
integral, maximum force, force-time integral and contact area of the total foot
and nine selected foot regions. Results: No significant differences on their preferred speeds were
observed running on concrete, synthetic rubber and grass surfaces. No significant
differences on plantar loads parameters of the total foot were found when running
on the three overground surfaces. Running on concrete showed higher peak pressure
in the lateral forefoot compared with grass and synthetic rubber (283.49 kPa vs.
264.31 kPa, p
