Live updates from the Footwear Biomechanics Symposium; Liverpool 2015

All good points. Was reading a bit online about this last night as I was worried I'd caused offence.

Found this which is a good read for conference attendees, organisers and the lecturers themselves:

https://onlineacademic.wordpress.com/2015/02/02/tweeting-etiquette-at-conferences/

Social media isn't going anywhere so we all need to be aware how to use it more responsibly (especially me!)

 

Herbaut et al: Lower shoe drop can reduce impact forces experienced by junior tennis players performing an open stance forehand

Lower drop tennis shoe --> shorter stride length; less dorsiflexed angle at foot strike; less impact

 

Deneweth et al: Individual-specific determinants of successful adaptation to minimal and maximal running shoes

Aim: to determine the extent to which a simple clinical test can predict successful adoption of minimalist or maximmalist running shoes

36 rearfoot strikers; strength testing VO2 max and foot stiffness measures; ran in Altra The One; Altra Paradigm and New Balance Minimus for baseline testing, then randomized to one of the 3 shoes.

During 4 weeks:
no injuries in the maximal shoe group
4 serious injuries in minimalist group (had to leave study); 10 mild injuries

 

Chang et al: Effect of functional foot orthotics on golf swing stability and accuracy of shots

Currexsole Edge Pro vs no insole:
--> increased postural stability
--> no EMG differences
--> "increase of the swing dynamic stability and accuracy of shots"

 

Chen et al: The effect of insole and arch support and heel cup support on baseball pitching

Investigated impact of support on:
- balance
- impact force
- maximum ball velocity
- pitching control

Found an increase in knee stability and a trend to an increase in ankle stability with support
No other differences.

 

Kersting et al: The effect of heel spring on foot movement and muscle activity during running

"heel spring" = drop

ECCO minimalist running shoe with 3 inserts to change drop:
-14mm drop
-flat (no drop)
- negatove 5mm drop

3D kinematic and kinetics

Systematic differences:
- no differences in EMG found
- changes in ankle dorsiflexion - (dorsiflexion > in negative drop > flat > 14mm drop

HOWEVER, 5 of 15 did not follow systematic pattern in ankle kinematics

Of 10 that followed systematic response, they did show reduced variability and negative drop showing greater EMG activity of tibialis anterior than flat which was greater than 14mm drop

"It was confirmed that individual adaptations dictate how athletes may respond to footwear modification which potentially alter the energy storage and return processes with the biological system without adding any energy return capacities within footwear"

 

Ueda et al: Wearing inappropriate footwear increases the loading rate during running

Wearing a running shoe that was too long increased loading rates

 

This was the highlight of the day for me and is going to put a spanner amoung the works:

Malisoux et al: The effectiveness of motion control systems in preventing running related injuries

RCT of motion control shoes vs neutral --> less injuries in the motion control group

I will start a new thread and write a blog post on this study very soon!

 

Sinclair et al: Effects of footwear designed to boost energy return on running economy compared to traditional running shoes

(I missed this presentation so do not know the brand/model of the shoes used ... anyone?)

From abstract:
Measured heart rate, VO2max etc of runners with energy return shoe and conventional shoe

VO2max was lower in energy return footwear
Respiratory exchange ration was also lower

Participants also rated energy return shoes as more comfortable than conventional.

 

Hashizume et al: Forefoot strike requires higher impulse of the achilles tendon than rearfoot strike

The title says it all ... there was a higher impulse going thru the achilles when forefoot striking than when heel striking

 

I just put up a blog post summarizing some of the above studies:
Relevant Gems from the 2015 Footwear Biomechanics Symposium

 

I still make up an annual "recommended running shoe list" for my office which delineates shoes into the categories of "motion control", "stability" and "neutral". I will continue to delineate running shoes into these categories until some better names come along for the differences in running shoe construction that the runners, running shoe stores and other podiatrists/clinicians all understand and agree upon.

There is no doubt in my mind that certain individuals are injured less frequently in "motion control shoes" than in "neutral shoes". However, that does not mean that some runners might also become more frequently injured running in "motion control shoes" than in "neutral shoes". However, as far as I'm concerned, frontal plane midsole stability is very important for many runners, especially those runners with medially deviated subtalar joint axes. Therefore, I will continue to recommend shoes with more frontal plane midsole stability for these runners until any research comes along that says that I shouldn't be doing so.

Thanks for all the updates, Craig!:drinks

 

BTW, there were more Australian Podiatrists at this conference than UK Podiatrists! ... go figure

 

To be honest, didn't even know it was on until about two days before it started.

 

Here is that blog post:
Motion control running shoes do affect the running injury rate

 

Aloha Craig,

Dr. Cavanagh is following up on his argument with his current SBIR testing of advanced composite insoles for the US Department of Defense and Army Medical Research and Materials Command with his company Diapedia LLC.

https://sbirsource.com/sbir/firms/12017-diapedia-llc

http://www.diapedia.com/DIApedia_key_personnel.htm

https://sbirsource.com/sbir/awards/145928-advanced-military-footwear-system-with-composite-orthotic


We and our soldiers stand at the ready for the "public release" of this important ground based research to enhance the safety needs of soldiers and other loved ones that walk in front of Harm's Way for our Ohana's and Countries.

We wish him good luck on his device.

Mahalo,
Steve



Do something... Mathew West

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_RjndG0IX8

 

Aloha,

Dr. Benno Nigg has been saying the same thing and some of us shunned and shamed him when he wrote just this in his last book, Biomechanics of Sports Shoes, Reread the chapter on orthotics ,Chapter 4.
ie page 162 "There is limited functional knowledge about the specific mechanisms that an orthotic or insert provides to limit excessive loading of specific structures."

I bet the Tissue Stress Theory Fan Boys don't like this none.

Darren has learned well from a fellow great at U. of Calgary.

Mahalo,
Steve


ps I hope Darren keeps researching advanced composites and all the new systems that will be born of from utilizing it.

How stiff can you really make foam anyway? It is a cushioning material not really a structural supportive one. Otherwise we would make bridges out of the stuff.

 

Aloha,

Understood, but what if you disagree with the content of the slide that was submitted in a public forum for review by our fellow professionals and subject matter experts?

Would it not be proper to submit the refuted content unaltered to further the dialog and learning?

Mahalo,
Steve

 

Steven:

I'll bet you can't post here on Podiatry Arena without using the term "advanced composites" to advertise your over-priced shoes/orthoses for very long, can you, Steven?

It's funny, but actually quite sad, that every post that you put up here on Podiatry Arena somehow always eventually leads back to "advanced composites" which all of us know that you have a financial interest in.

Why don't you go advertise and market your "advanced composite" product somewhere else, Steven? You are far too predictable and, frankly, you are not doing yourself or your "advanced composite" product any favors by constantly trying to advertise your product here on Podiatry Arena.

 

Aloha Kevin,

Please put me on your mute button again so as to not influence you with new thoughts and science.

Mahalo,
Steve

 

Steve:

If it was new thoughts you gave, it wouldn't be so bad. But your continued returns to Podiatry Arena to plug your "advanced composite" device is what you do...and do repeatedly week after week, month after month and year after year.

I get plenty of science elsewhere...what I get from you, however, is not science...it is a scratched record...saying the same thing over, and over, and over, and over again. Is this all you got...just "advanced composites"?:bang::craig::deadhorse:

 

Aloha Kevin,

How many times do I have to tell you that advanced composites and simple machine engineering improves the safety, energy efficiency, stability and greenability of our gait and footwear systems?

Seven times Seventy?

Mahalo,
Steve