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Hollander 2019 AdaptationofRunningBiomechan

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NP6 Letter to the Editor The American Journal of Sports Medicine

3. Gabriel DA, Kamen G, Frost G. Neural adaptations to resistive exer- habituation processes (like in our study). But, to the best
cise: mechanisms and recommendations for training practices. Sports of our knowledge, both can be considered habituation.
Med. 2006;36(2):133-149.
In this context, we agree that this terminology is vague
4. Hollander K, Liebl D, Meining S, Mattes K, Willwacher S, Zech A. Adap-
tation of running biomechanics to repeated barefoot running: a random-
since no common definition is available at the moment. In
ized controlled study. Am J Sports Med. 2019;47(8):1975-1983. a recent systematic review on this topic from our group,3
5. Lieberman DE, Venkadesan M, Werbel WA, et al. Foot strike patterns a habitually barefoot person was defined in different stud-
and collision forces in habitually barefoot versus shod runners. Nature. ies by either running mileage (50%, 66%, or 80% of yearly
2010;463(7280):531-535. mileage), being barefoot all their life, or just living in areas
6. Tam N, Tucker R, Astephen Wilson JL. Individual responses to a bare- where it is common to walk and run barefoot. Following
foot running program: insight into risk of injury. Am J Sports Med.
2016;44(3):777-784.
this, we suggested a ‘‘barefoot questionnaire,’’5 which has
already been successfully used by your and our research
groups.1,2 However, we think that future studies on habit-
ual barefoot running/locomotion would benefit from a con-
sensus of this term, and maybe this is also needed for
‘‘adaptation.’’ Without this definition and the knowledge
Adaptation of Running of underlying mechanisms, it is not possible to determine
at the moment what an adaptation to barefoot running
Biomechanics to Repeated (used in the letter) is. However, we used the term ‘‘adapta-
tion of running biomechanics,’’ which reflects on the out-
Barefoot Running: Response come of our intervention on running biomechanics rather
than an adaptation to barefoot running. Therefore, we con-
DOI: 10.1177/0363546519878154 clude that the terminology does not interfere with the
interpretation of our results.

Authors’ Response: Karsten Hollander, MD, PhD


We appreciate the letter and commendations from Dr Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Francis and colleagues on our article ‘‘Adaptation of Run- Dominik Liebl, PhD
ning Biomechanics to Repeated Barefoot Running: A Ran- Bonn, Germany
domized Controlled Study,’’ which was published in the Stephanie Meining, MA
American Journal of Sports Medicine.4 The authors of Bremen, Germany
the letter address the topic of an inconsistency between Klaus Mattes, PhD
the terms ‘‘adaptation’’ and ‘‘habituation’’ and conclude Hamburg, Germany
that this might lead to confusion in the interpretation of Steffen Willwacher, PhD
our findings. We agree that a clear definition of adaptation Cologne, Germany
and habituation would be needed (overall), but do not Astrid Zech, PT, PhD
agree with their conclusion that this interferes with the Jena, Germany
interpretation of our findings.
In our study, we investigated the adaptation of run-
Address correspondence to Karsten Hollander, MD, PhD (email:
ning biomechanics as a result of the intervention (habitu-
[email protected]).
ation). The adaptation of running biomechanics is not
Submitted July 27, 2019; accepted August 7, 2019.
seen as a final product but rather reflects a status after The authors declared that they have no conflicts of interest in the
8 weeks of relatively little barefoot running (15 min/wk). authorship and publication of this contribution.
In agreement with existing theories we consider this
a form of motor adaptation.7 Such barefoot-related motor
adaptations have already been addressed for balance
learning processes.12 Learning and habituation interven- REFERENCES
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of (simulated) barefoot running, aiming, for example, for 1. Francis P, Schofield G, Mackay L. Being barefoot. Prevalence at
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more sessions per week with a progressive increase of between children and adolescents growing up barefoot vs. shod. Int
demands.9-11 J Sports Med. 2018;39(2):97-103.
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4. Hollander K, Liebl D, Meining S, Mattes K, Willwacher S, Zech A. Adap-
moment and therefore we do not know when, if ever, a tran-
tation of running biomechanics to repeated barefoot running: a random-
sition to a final barefoot running pattern can be completed. ized controlled study. Am J Sports Med. 2019;47(8):1975-1983.
In that regard, we completely agree with the statement that 5. Hollander K, van der Zwaard BC, de Villiers JE, Braumann KM,
motor patterns after long-life barefoot habituation6,8 are Venter R, Zech A. The effects of being habitually barefoot on foot
probably different from those after only 8 weeks of mechanics and motor performance in children and adolescents
AJSM Vol. 48, No. 1, 2020 Letter to the Editor NP7

aged 6-18 years: study protocol for a multicenter cross-sectional a randomised controlled trial. J Sci Med Sport. 2018;21(12):
study (Barefoot LIFE project). J Foot Ankle Res. 2016;9(1):36. 1298-1303.
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Nature. 2019;571(7764):261-264. Med. 2016;44(3):777-784.
7. Izawa J, Rane T, Donchin O, Shadmehr R. Motor adaptation as a pro- 11. Warne JP, Gruber AH. Transitioning to minimal footwear: a systematic
cess of reoptimization. J Neurosci. 2008;28(11):2883-2891. review of methods and future clinical recommendations. Sports Med
8. Lieberman DE, Venkadesan M, Werbel WA, et al. Foot strike patterns Open. 2017;3(1):33.
and collision forces in habitually barefoot versus shod runners. 12. Zech A, Meining S, Hotting K, Liebl D, Mattes K, Hollander K. Effects
Nature. 2010;463(7280):531-535. of barefoot and footwear conditions on learning of a dynamic balance
9. Lindlein K, Zech A, Zoch A, Braumann KM, Hollander K. Improving task: a randomized controlled study. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2018;
running economy by transitioning to minimalist footwear: 118(12):2699-2706.

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