Effects of Toe Tube Training on Intrinsic Foot Muscle Strength and Reactive Strength Index in Runners: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Long-distance runners are known to be at a high risk of lower limb disorders due to a decline in the function of the intrinsic foot muscles (IFMs). The aim of this study was to examine the effects of toe tube training using elastic tubes. First, a crossover study was conducted with 13 healthy adults...
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2024-11-01
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| author | Yuki Nakai Yasufumi Takeshita |
| author_facet | Yuki Nakai Yasufumi Takeshita |
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| description | Long-distance runners are known to be at a high risk of lower limb disorders due to a decline in the function of the intrinsic foot muscles (IFMs). The aim of this study was to examine the effects of toe tube training using elastic tubes. First, a crossover study was conducted with 13 healthy adults in three conditions: tube training, short foot exercise, and control. Changes in the IFMs pre- and post-exercise were confirmed using ultrasound echo. Next, 19 university long-distance runners were randomly divided into two groups (tube training or short foot exercise) and underwent a five-week training intervention. The toe grip strength, toe gap strength, and reactive strength index were measured pre- and post-intervention. In a crossover study, the tube training and short foot exercise showed a significant interaction effect on the abductor hallucis brevis (F = 5.63, <i>p</i> = 0.010, partial η<sup>2</sup> = 0.32) and flexor digitorum brevis (F = 15.29, <i>p</i> < 0.001, partial η<sup>2</sup> = 0.56), confirming an immediate effect of tube training and short foot exercise. In an intervention study with runners, no interaction was observed but a main effect of time was found, with both groups showing significant improvements in toe grip strength (F = 25.64, <i>p</i> < 0.001, partial η<sup>2</sup> = 0.60), toe gap strength (F = 11.26, <i>p</i> = 0.004, partial η<sup>2</sup> = 0.40), and RSI (F = 4.81, <i>p</i> = 0.042, partial η<sup>2</sup> = 0.22). Tube training may be an effective alternative for runners who find short foot exercise difficult and want to adjust the exercise load. |
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| spelling | doaj-art-34b8b98995054610b77a5f30ffc8a86c2025-08-20T01:53:49ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172024-11-0114221051410.3390/app142210514Effects of Toe Tube Training on Intrinsic Foot Muscle Strength and Reactive Strength Index in Runners: A Randomized Controlled TrialYuki Nakai0Yasufumi Takeshita1Department of Information, Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, Faculty of Engineering, Daiichi Institute of Technology, 1-10-2 Kokubuchuo, Kirishima City 899-4395, JapanDepartment of Information, Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, Faculty of Engineering, Daiichi Institute of Technology, 1-10-2 Kokubuchuo, Kirishima City 899-4395, JapanLong-distance runners are known to be at a high risk of lower limb disorders due to a decline in the function of the intrinsic foot muscles (IFMs). The aim of this study was to examine the effects of toe tube training using elastic tubes. First, a crossover study was conducted with 13 healthy adults in three conditions: tube training, short foot exercise, and control. Changes in the IFMs pre- and post-exercise were confirmed using ultrasound echo. Next, 19 university long-distance runners were randomly divided into two groups (tube training or short foot exercise) and underwent a five-week training intervention. The toe grip strength, toe gap strength, and reactive strength index were measured pre- and post-intervention. In a crossover study, the tube training and short foot exercise showed a significant interaction effect on the abductor hallucis brevis (F = 5.63, <i>p</i> = 0.010, partial η<sup>2</sup> = 0.32) and flexor digitorum brevis (F = 15.29, <i>p</i> < 0.001, partial η<sup>2</sup> = 0.56), confirming an immediate effect of tube training and short foot exercise. In an intervention study with runners, no interaction was observed but a main effect of time was found, with both groups showing significant improvements in toe grip strength (F = 25.64, <i>p</i> < 0.001, partial η<sup>2</sup> = 0.60), toe gap strength (F = 11.26, <i>p</i> = 0.004, partial η<sup>2</sup> = 0.40), and RSI (F = 4.81, <i>p</i> = 0.042, partial η<sup>2</sup> = 0.22). Tube training may be an effective alternative for runners who find short foot exercise difficult and want to adjust the exercise load.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/22/10514elastic tubingintrinsic foot muscletoe grip strengthtoe gap strengthreactive strength index |
| spellingShingle | Yuki Nakai Yasufumi Takeshita Effects of Toe Tube Training on Intrinsic Foot Muscle Strength and Reactive Strength Index in Runners: A Randomized Controlled Trial Applied Sciences elastic tubing intrinsic foot muscle toe grip strength toe gap strength reactive strength index |
| title | Effects of Toe Tube Training on Intrinsic Foot Muscle Strength and Reactive Strength Index in Runners: A Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_full | Effects of Toe Tube Training on Intrinsic Foot Muscle Strength and Reactive Strength Index in Runners: A Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Toe Tube Training on Intrinsic Foot Muscle Strength and Reactive Strength Index in Runners: A Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Toe Tube Training on Intrinsic Foot Muscle Strength and Reactive Strength Index in Runners: A Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_short | Effects of Toe Tube Training on Intrinsic Foot Muscle Strength and Reactive Strength Index in Runners: A Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_sort | effects of toe tube training on intrinsic foot muscle strength and reactive strength index in runners a randomized controlled trial |
| topic | elastic tubing intrinsic foot muscle toe grip strength toe gap strength reactive strength index |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/22/10514 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yukinakai effectsoftoetubetrainingonintrinsicfootmusclestrengthandreactivestrengthindexinrunnersarandomizedcontrolledtrial AT yasufumitakeshita effectsoftoetubetrainingonintrinsicfootmusclestrengthandreactivestrengthindexinrunnersarandomizedcontrolledtrial |