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Guys,

I'm in the process of penning a blog for a running shoe website and realised that with regard to the good ole 'wet foot test' known by all, and still subscribed to by (too) many, I have no idea who conceived it and when. Any ideas? Any primary references?

Cheers

Ian

 

Re: Wet Foot Test for running shoe selection

Probably has it's origins in foot-printing studies like Harris and Beath , Barnicott and Hardy, Clapham etc..

 

Re: Wet Foot Test for running shoe selection

Good call. But any thoughts on who 'commercialised' this concept into low=motion control, high=neutral/cushioned etc?

Runners World? A running shoe company?

 

Re: Wet Foot Test for running shoe selection

I don't know who started it but it does not work according to at least 2 different studies.

1. Swedler DI, Knapik JJ, Grier T, Jones BH. Validity of plantar surface visual assessment as an estimate of foot arch height. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2010;42(2):375-380.

2. Knapik JJ, Swedler DI, Grier TL, et al. Injury reduction effectiveness of selecting running shoes based on plantar shape. J Strength Cond Res 2009;23(3):685-697.

I can find the papers if you want.
cheers
Bruce

 

Re: Wet Foot Test for running shoe selection

Hey Bruce,

I've got those thanks. I just wanted a bit of the history behind it for the introduction (and my own interest to be honest). Any ideas?

Cheers

Ian

 

Re: Wet Foot Test for running shoe selection

@ Bruce,

My mistake - I only have these two pieces by the Knapik et al gang:

Injury Reduction Effectiveness of Assigning Running Shoes Based on Plantar Shape in Marine Corps Basic Training

Effect on injuries of assigning shoes based on foot shape in air force basic training


I knew I had two articles by them, but I dont seem to have reference number 2 you listed above:

Knapik JJ, Swedler DI, Grier TL, et al. Injury reduction effectiveness of selecting running shoes based on plantar shape. J Strength Cond Res 2009;23(3):685-697.

Any chance you could mail a copy my way please? (Usual e-mail address)

Thanks



@ Admin,

Thanks for the link to the other thread discussing this, but still doesn't answer my original question.

Anyone? Bueller...? Bueller...?

 

Re: Wet Foot Test for running shoe selection

Maybe it should be Swedler.... ? Swedler..... ?

 

Re: Wet Foot Test for running shoe selection

Do you have Peter Canvangh's book on running shoes from 1980 - there may be something in it?

 

Re: Wet Foot Test for running shoe selection

Good memory! Page 289 of "The Running Shoe Book" has a description of wetting the foot and seeing the shape of the foot print along with an illustration of "normal", "flat" and "high arch" feet (Cavanagh PR.: The Running Shoe Book, Anderson World, Inc., Mountain View, CA, 1980).

Here's the original 1947 description of the Harris-Beath mat from JBJS.

 

Re: Wet Foot Test for running shoe selection

The grid lines in the illustration remind me of the impression plate we used in the chiropractors office. The grid lines got progressively deeper as the got closer together so that pressure differential could be observed from the ink transfered to the paper. Now they do it with a pressure plate and a computer.
I found the print very helpful to overlay the insole or orthotic to see if it would actually accommodate the foot