The main goal of the project was to compare how the Achilles tendon is affected while running with traditional shoes, minimalistic shoes and barefoot. Displacement and strain were calculated both for different shoes and for different foot strike patterns. The calculations were done with a speckle tracking algorithm and displacement was calculated for three different depths in the tendon: deep layer, mid layer and superficial layer. The goal was also to conduct this analysis after a review of the algorithm used. The review of the algorithm focused on the size of the region of interest, kernel size and frequency. Literature study showed that it is more common to use a smaller kernel size, but the same shape. The region of interest was chosen depending on the size of the tendon. Displacement and strain in the Achilles tendon was calculated for seven subjects and the result did not show any difference in amount of mean deformation due to different shoe types or foot strike patterns. It was a small sample group but the result indicated a difference in peak displacement between deep and superficial layer depending on different shoe types and foot strike patterns. The difference in peak displacement between deep and superficial layer was lowest when running barefoot, larger when running with minimalistic shoes and greatest when running with traditional shoes. This result was only achieved when running with rear foot strike pattern. When running with fore foot strike pattern the difference in peak displacement between layers did not change with different conditions. In all conditions the difference in peak displacement between the layers was greater when running with rear foot strike pattern than when running with front foot strike pattern. The deep layer displaced more than the superficial layer (p<0.01) for all conditions and foot strike patterns.

Title: The influence of running shoes on leg and pelvis kinematics during the stance phase of run Objectives: The main objective of this thesis is to detect whether there exists a connection between the type of shoes used and changes in pelvis and legs kinematics in sagittal plane while running. Methology: For a purpose of the thesis research 12 active sportsmen (6 men and 6 women) participated in lab tests. Each of them was running on a tread mill for three time sequences - each counting 20 seconds - with changes in conditions applied as follows: barefoot run, minimalistic shod run, classic shod run. The 3D analysis was analysed using the Qualisys system (200 Hz). Data analytics was executed using the Qualisys Track Manager programme, where a comparative method was applied. Further statistical procedures ANOVA a Tukey test were performed in a programme called OriginPro 8. Key findings: The executed lab tests proved influence of running shoes on legs and pelvis kinematics during a stance phase of run. The main changes in kinematics were found in an ancle during touchdown, where the angle significantly increased while running barefoot rather than classic shod running. An analysis of pelvis kinematics parameters has proven that there are no changes in pelvis movements while running in different types...