EZ Running Belt eliminates heel-strike : Case series

Abstract: Aim: The purpose of the study is to explore within a case-study design if training with the EZ Run Belt in an ecological setting changes running kinematics and if it affects running economy. Methodology: A case study design has been chosen to answer the aim of this study. Four subjects (two men, two women) with different running background were recruited for this case study, but only two subjects completed the study. Subjects visited LIVI test laboratory on two different test sessions. The study design consisted of one pre-test followed by a 4-week training intervention and a post-test and it was administered as a case study. The training intervention was conducted in an ecological setting with no interference from the researcher. The study consisted of an economy test and a kinematic test. The subjects ran the test on a treadmill at two different self-selected submaximal paces (6 min each). Submaximal running economy was defined by the average VO2 (l ∙min-1, ml∙kg-1∙min-1) recorded over the last minute of each 6-min bout. Running kinematics was analyzed from video footage with the video analysis software Kinovea. Results: Both subjects eliminated heel-strike, increased step frequency, shortened stride length while the energy cost increased. Conclusions: The EZ Run Belt could be a good tool for heel-strikers as it eliminated heel-strike and helped with changing the stride into a more forefoot strike in the two case studies presented.