Medicine and science in sports and exercise
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Med Sci Sports Exerc · Aug 2014
Force-deformation properties of the human heel pad during barefoot walking.
The plantar heel pad is a specialized fibroadipose tissue that attenuates and, in part, dissipates the impact energy associated with heel strike. Although a near-maximal deformation of the heel pad has been shown during running, an in vivo measurement of the deformation and structural properties of the heel pad during walking remains largely unexplored. This study used a fluoroscope, synchronized with a pressure platform, to obtain force-deformation data for the heel pad during walking. ⋯ These findings suggest that the heel pad operates close to its pain threshold even at speeds encountered during barefoot walking and provides insight as to why barefoot runners may adopt "forefoot" strike patterns that minimize heel loading.
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The hypoalgesic effects of acute exercise are well documented. However, the effect of chronic exercise training on pain sensitivity is largely unknown. ⋯ Moderate- to vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise training increases ischemic pain tolerance in healthy individuals.