“Super shoes” have become more popular among competitive and recreational runners, as they are designed to give the wearer a little extra propulsion when running, but new research suggests they may also increase a person’s risk of injury.
According to statistics reported in PM&R, a journal of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, these running super shoes can cause subtle changes in running mechanics that have been linked to bone stress injuries.
“Our study highlights the need for careful integration of AFT into training and underscores the importance of further research to better understand long-term strategies to modify risk for injury while recognizing the exciting gains related to this footwear on performance,” senior researcher Dr. Adam Tenforde, director of running medicine at Mass General Brigham in Boston, said in a news release.
Super Shoes, Super Injuries
Super shoes come in all different shapes and sizes, but the type that were analyzed for the study were equipped with a carbon fiber plate and thick, lightweight foam stacks that work together to enhance forward propulsion while an individual is running. Essentially, the shoes really do help put a little extra spring in your step, but this extra propulsion may be altering gait mechanics an increasing injury risk.
For the study, researchers observed 21 elite distance runners as they ran in three different types of shoes:
- Regular shoes
- Shoes equipped with lightweight responsive foam
- Super shoes with highly cushioned foam and a stiff carbon fiber plate
Runners tested the shoes at three different speeds – a training speed, a tempo run and a 5K race speed. Researchers tracked speed, shoe condition and runner form throughout the trials. After looking at the data, researchers found that shoes equipped with “advanced footwear technology” were associated with changes linked to bone stress injuries (overstress injuries leading to bone swelling or stress fractures).
Researchers found that runners wearing super shoes had a decreased cadence, or fewer steps per minute, which forced them to overstride to maintain an assumed pace. Their arches also tended to collapse inward more often than in regular shoes.
“AFT improves performance, but runners should balance this benefit with the possibility of subtle changes in loading on the body,” lead author Michelle Bruneau said in a news release.
The team noted that the study was small and could not draw direct cause-and-effect between AFT and running injuries, but they believe that runners shouldn’t blindly pursue AFT shoes without taking into account how the shoes can disrupt their normal running form.
“Rotating shoes and gradually adapting to AFT may help reduce potential injury risk while optimizing running performance,” Bruneau concluded.
We advise a gradual transition when switching to a new pair of running shoes, and that sentiment holds especially true when considering “super shoes” or other AFT footwear. Switching too quickly to a new pair of running shoes can increase your risk of injury, so be smart when switching running shoes! And of course, if you need help overcoming a new or existing foot or ankle injury, connect with Dr. Silverman and his team today!