{
  "abstract": "Background\n\nFlip-flop and barefoot running are increasingly common; however, their biomechanical effects remain unclear. This study examined lower-limb kinematics and muscle activation during treadmill running under barefoot, conventional flip-flop, Y-Sandal, and shod conditions.Methods\n\nSixteen volunteers were recruited to run on a treadmill under four footwear conditions at three speeds. A three-dimensional motion capture system was used to collect kinematic data, and the activities of the tibialis anterior, extensor digitorum longus, and flexor hallucis longus muscles were simultaneously recorded using a wireless electromyography system.Results\n\nBarefoot running was associated with higher cadence, whereas the Y-Sandal condition was associated with the shortest stance duration. The conventional flip-flop condition was associated with greater sagittal-plane hip motion compared with the Y-Sandal and shod conditions. The barefoot and conventional flip-flop conditions were associated with similar ankle and forefoot movement patterns in sagittal and frontal planes, whereas the Y-Sandal and shod conditions produced different patterns. Furthermore, significantly higher lower-leg muscle activation was observed under the conventional flip-flop and Y-Sandal conditions compared with the barefoot and shod conditions.Conclusion\n\nFootwear design significantly affects running biomechanics and neuromuscular strategies. Although barefoot running promotes a higher cadence, thong-style footwear increases the demand on the distal musculature. The specific design features of the Y-Sandal appear to mitigate the compensatory kinematic strategies typically observed with conventional flip-flops, resulting in movement patterns that more closely resemble those observed during shod running. These findings highlight the distinct neuromuscular demands and kinematic adaptations associated with different footwear interfaces.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Physical Therapy, China Medical University, No. 100, Section 1, Jingmao Road, Beitun District, Taichung City, Taiwan, R.O.C., 406040, Republic of China.",
    "Department of Biomedical Engineering, Medical Engineering and Rehabilitation Science, China Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan, 406040, Republic of China.",
    "Department of Physical Therapy, China Medical University, No. 100, Section 1, Jingmao Road, Beitun District, Taichung City, Taiwan, R.O.C., 406040, Republic of China. hclin@mail.cmu.edu.tw.",
    "Department of Biomedical Engineering, Medical Engineering and Rehabilitation Science, China Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan, 406040, Republic of China. hclin@mail.cmu.edu.tw."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Chun Wai Wong"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Chia-Ming Chang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Ying-Che Tseng"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Chih-Wei Chen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Hsiu-Chen Lin",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-9231-1321"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ek0e0mw6dqkx0.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1186/s13102-026-01870-y",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13682091",
  "id": "ek0e0mw6dqkx0",
  "issns": [
    "2052-1847"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42897676",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "lcc",
      "RC1200-1245"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2204|Lower Extremity Biomechanics and Pathologies"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7170067435",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13682091?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13682091",
  "pmid": "42897676",
  "published": "2026-07-01",
  "publisher": "BMC",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ek0e0mw6dqkx0.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:42Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42897676",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42897676"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T13:46:23Z",
      "native_id": "77904977b03640a2bb8b09864fe55d84",
      "source": "doaj",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-026-01870-y"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "lcc:RC1200-1245",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Kinematics and muscle activation of the lower limb during barefoot and flip-flop running.",
  "title_text": "Kinematics and muscle activation of the lower limb during barefoot and flip-flop running.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T13:46:23Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ek0e0mw6dqkx0",
  "venue": "BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation",
  "versions": []
}