TY - JOUR
T1 - The effects of systematically altered footwear features on biomechanics, injury, performance, and preference in runners of different skill level
T2 - a systematic review
AU - Hoitz, Fabian
AU - Mohr, Maurice
AU - Asmussen, Michael
AU - Lam, Wing Kai
AU - Nigg, Sandro
AU - Nigg, Benno
N1 - This study was funded by Li Ning (Beijing, China).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2020/9/1
Y1 - 2020/9/1
N2 - Matching running footwear features to the functional needs of specific groups of runners stratified according to their training status or running experience has the potential to improve footwear preference, enhance running performance, and reduce the risk of running-related injuries. The complexity of modern running shoes in combination with the various functional needs of specific groups of runners, however, introduces many confounding factors, disguising what an appropriate shoe design should entail. As a result, it is crucial to identify and synthesise the effects of systematically modified running footwear features on lower extremity biomechanics, performance, injury risk, and footwear preference in runners of different skill levels to advance the knowledge of running biomechanics and footwear. The databases Scopus and PubMed were searched for related studies and 895 articles were identified. After the application of exclusion criteria, 68 articles remained and were arranged in a matrix that highlighted the investigated footwear feature and runner level. The effects of 20 footwear features on lower extremity biomechanics, injury, performance, and preference in novice, recreational, and high calibre runners were synthesised. Laced uppers with harder midsole materials in the forefoot/lateral regions of the shoe and softer materials in the rearfoot/medial regions increased comfort and thus likely preference. To increase performance, footwear should be constructed as lightweight as possible, and implement a range of different bending stiffness for individual needs. Injury risks at the knee joint were reduced in footwear with thinner midsoles. For high calibre runners, specifically, insoles should be custom moulded to the shape of the foot, and special attention needs to be payed to the elasticity of the upper, in order to avoid detrimental shifts in running patterns.
AB - Matching running footwear features to the functional needs of specific groups of runners stratified according to their training status or running experience has the potential to improve footwear preference, enhance running performance, and reduce the risk of running-related injuries. The complexity of modern running shoes in combination with the various functional needs of specific groups of runners, however, introduces many confounding factors, disguising what an appropriate shoe design should entail. As a result, it is crucial to identify and synthesise the effects of systematically modified running footwear features on lower extremity biomechanics, performance, injury risk, and footwear preference in runners of different skill levels to advance the knowledge of running biomechanics and footwear. The databases Scopus and PubMed were searched for related studies and 895 articles were identified. After the application of exclusion criteria, 68 articles remained and were arranged in a matrix that highlighted the investigated footwear feature and runner level. The effects of 20 footwear features on lower extremity biomechanics, injury, performance, and preference in novice, recreational, and high calibre runners were synthesised. Laced uppers with harder midsole materials in the forefoot/lateral regions of the shoe and softer materials in the rearfoot/medial regions increased comfort and thus likely preference. To increase performance, footwear should be constructed as lightweight as possible, and implement a range of different bending stiffness for individual needs. Injury risks at the knee joint were reduced in footwear with thinner midsoles. For high calibre runners, specifically, insoles should be custom moulded to the shape of the foot, and special attention needs to be payed to the elasticity of the upper, in order to avoid detrimental shifts in running patterns.
KW - biomechanics
KW - Footwear
KW - injury
KW - performance
KW - preference
KW - running
KW - shoes
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85086906998&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/19424280.2020.1773936
DO - 10.1080/19424280.2020.1773936
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85086906998
SN - 1942-4280
VL - 12
SP - 193
EP - 215
JO - Footwear Science
JF - Footwear Science
IS - 3
ER -
