The Effects of Motion Control Shoes on Knee Joint Co-Contraction in Overweight Individuals With Flat Feet

 The study aimed to evaluate the effects of motion control shoes on knee joint co-contraction in overweight individuals with flat feet.

15 overweight females with a navicular drop greater than 10 mm were selected with available sampling. Demographic characteristics of participants include Mean±SD age: 26.8±2.5 years, height: 1.7±0.1 m, weight: 82.5±3.2 kg, and Body Mass Index: 28.2±1.1 kg/m2. This study was done during running with both control (Supernova control, Adidas) and motion control (Supernovacushion, Adidas) shoes. An electromyography system recorded selected muscles’ electrical activity and then computed co-contraction values. Paired sample t-test was used for statistical analysis.

 Finding demonstrated that during the loading phase, the directed co-contraction of vastus medialis/lateral while using motion control shoes was greater than control shoes (P=0.035). Also, mediolateral-directed knee joint co-contraction while running with a motion control shoe was greater than the control shoe during the push-off phase (P=0.020). 

Motion control shoes improved directed co-contraction in overweight individuals with flat feet, especially in the frontal plane that could modify imposed knee joint loads.