The Effect Custom Foot Orthotics on Comfort, Kinetics and Kinematics

The overarching aim of this project is to investigate the role of custom foot orthotics in a 'return to performance' framework as the ultimate part of the 'return to sport continuum'. The aim of this particular study is to investigate the effect of Custom Foot Orthotics (CFO) made from different materials on Running Economy (RE). Well trained recreational athletes (volunteers) will present to a physiology lab for a familiarisation running session where standard measurements (e.g. height, weight, shoe size, training history, foot shape) will be recorded. During this initial visit, our volunteers will also perform an incremental running test to determine the individual ventilatory threshold (VT). This will allow the use of individual speeds of a relative equal intensity that which will be used during the experimental session. A full explanation of the experimental procedures will be given and trialed. This session will last about 1 hour. For the experimental session (minimum of one week after the incremental test and receiving the custom-made orthotics), our volunteers will report to the same lab minimal 4 hours post prandial, having done no strenuous exercise for 12 hours before data collection. After a 10-minute warm up, Participants will run four 6-minute trials (four footwear conditions) with plenty of rest (5 minutes) between running trials to recover and answer short surveys on footwear comfort and readiness to start the next session. Also actual sprint performance will be tested. After a 10-minute general and sprint specific warm up twelve 5-second all out sprints (3 sprints per condition) with 4 minutes recovery between each sprint will be performed. This session will last about 2 and a half hours. The volunteers will run in four different footwear conditions: standardized running shoes + original liner of the sport shoe standardized running shoes + a custom-made orthotic from an EVA/TPU material standardized running shoes + a custom-made orthotic from