Acclimatization To Minimalist Footwear: Longitudinal Adaptations In Foot Structure And Gait Biomechanics

The growing adoption of minimalist footwear in physically active populations has sparked interest in understanding its biomechanical implications. While acute responses have been documented, longitudinal adaptations remain poorly understood. PURPOSE: To investigate temporal progression of foot structural adaptations and gait biomechanics during an 8-week minimalist footwear intervention in physically active population. METHODS: Twenty-three active adults (15 males, age 26.1 ± 5.4 years) completed an 8-week intervention using minimalist footwear. Biomechanical assessments occurred at five timepoints (baseline, days 7, 14, 28, 56). Each assessment included foot anthropometrics and gait analysis with 15 walking trials per condition (barefoot, minimalist, conventional footwear) at self-selected speeds over a 4.9-meter instrumented walkway. Integrated pressure patterns and arch parameters were analyzed using mixed-effects modeling, with barefoot as reference (α = 0.05). RESULTS: Integrated pressure decreased significantly in barefoot (142.3 ± 12.4 to 139.3 ± 11.8 kPa·s, -2.10%) and minimalist conditions (138.7 ± 11.9 to 137.6 ± 11.7 kPa·s, -0.77%) (p < 0.05), while conventional footwear showed minimal change (155.2 ± 13.1 to 155.3 ± 13.2 kPa·s, +0.01%). Standing arch height remained stable (baseline: 63.2 ± 4.8 mm; final: 63.4 ± 4.7 mm, p > 0.05). Arch compliance increased from baseline (2.41 ± 0.32 mm) to week 1 (3.07 ± 0.35 mm, +27.31%), then decreased to week 8 (2.61 ± 0.33 mm, -15.07%, p = 0.094). CONCLUSIONS: This investigation reveals distinct temporal patterns in foot structural adaptations during minimalist footwear acclimatization. The progressive reduction in integrated pressure (-2.10% barefoot, -0.77% minimalist) indicates enhanced load distribution efficiency during gait, while arch compliance patterns suggest neuromuscular adaptations crucial for dynamic foot control during athletic movements. These biomechanical adaptations may enhance force transmission and proprioceptive awareness, key components for athletic performance. Longitudinal studies incorporating EMG analysis during sport-specific movements are warranted to quantify these adaptive mechanisms' relationship with performance metrics.