Maximal running shoe biomechanics

Members do not see these Ads. Sign Up.

THE INFLUENCE OF MAXIMAL RUNNING SHOES ON BIOMECHANICS PRIOR TO AND FOLLOWING A 5K RUN
Carter, M.; Ter Har, J.; Ford, R.; Rynning, J.; Owens, R.; Witzke, FACSM, K.; and Pollard, C. D. (2017) International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 8 : Iss. 5 , Article 24.

 

Curious as to what they think those industry claims might be.

...and the link between those variables and injury is?

 

No real surprises here are there?

 

Shoe cushioning reduces impact and muscle activation during landings from unexpected, but not self-initiated, drops.
Fu W et al
J Sci Med Sport. 2017 Mar 21. pii: S1440-2440(17)30339-0. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2017.03.009

 

The Influence of Maximal Running Shoes on
Biomechanics Prior to and Following a 5K Run
Christine D. Polard et al
Presented at ACSM Mtg, 2018

 

Kinematics And Muscle Activity While Running In
Minimalist, Neutral, And Ultra-cushioning Shoes
James Beker et al
Preseneted at ACSM Mtg, 2018

 

Highly Cushioned Shoes Increase Leg Stiffness And
Amplify Impact Loads During Running
Juha-Peka Kulmala et al
Presenetd at ACSM Mtg, 2018

 

Press Release:
‘Maximal’ running shoes may increase injury risk to some runners
June 25, 2018
BEND, Oregon. – Lower leg pain and injuries have long been a problem for runners, but research at Oregon State University-Cascades has shown that one type of running shoe may increase such risks for some runners.

Researchers in the Functional Orthopedic Research Center of Excellence (FORCE) Lab compared the biomechanics associated with “maximal” and “neutral” running shoes in tests with 15 female runners. The study concluded that runners experienced a higher impact peak and increased loading rate with the “maximal” shoes. Increases in both factors are associated with a greater likelihood of injury, such as plantar fasciitis and tibial stress fractures.

The study was published in The Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine and is believed to be the first rigorous analysis of impacts associated with maximal shoes.

Maximal running shoes feature increased cushioning, particularly in the forefoot region of the midsole, and have gained popularity since being introduced in 2010. More than 20 varieties of maximal shoes are on the market.

Runners wearing maximal shoes, the researchers wrote, have reported feeling the extra cushion after running two to three miles. As a result, the researchers did not expect to find increases in impact peak or loading rate in runners wearing maximal shoes.

In the FORCE Lab study, researchers evaluated the impacts on runners’ feet and legs before and after a simulated 5,000 meter (about 3 miles) run on a treadmill. Each subject wore a neutral running shoe (New Balance 880) for one test and then, after a seven to 10-day waiting period, repeated the procedure with a maximal shoe (Hoke One One Bondi 4). In each test, 3D movements and forces were measured by monitoring reflective markers placed on the runners’ shoes and legs and by having the subjects run over a “force plate” that recorded the forces being applied as the runner’s foot hit the surface.

“We were surprised by these results,” said Christine Pollard, director of the FORCE Lab and an associate professor of kinesiology. “We thought we would see the opposite. Typically, increased cushioning results in a reduction in the impact peak and loading rate of the vertical ground reaction force. We suspect that the large amount of cushioning across the entire midsole caused the runners to rely more on the shoe than on their own internal structures to attenuate these forces.”

The study also evaluated the degree of “peak eversion,” the outward turning of the foot, a factor associated with injury risk. The researchers found no difference between the maximal and neutral shoes.

The research is a first step in gathering evidence on the effects of maximal running shoes on runners’ injury risks, said Pollard, who is also a licensed physical therapist. Maximal shoes are becoming very popular, but without controlled studies, clinicians have been unable to make science-based recommendations to runners.

Pollard said she expects that a study with male runners might produce different results. “We know that gender differences in running biomechanics do exist,” she added.

Funds for the study came from Oregon State University-Cascades. The FORCE Lab specializes in studies aimed at preventing injuries to athletes. It is a partnership between OSU-Cascades, Therapeutic Associates-Bend Physical Therapy, The Center for Orthopedic and Neurosurgical Care and Research and The Center Foundation.

 

Kinematics and muscle activity when running in partial minimalist, traditional, and maximalist shoes.
Becker J, Borgia B
J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2019 Nov 28