Creating footwear for performance running

Can changes in midsole bending stiffness of shoes affect the onset of joint work redistribution during a prolonged run?

“…Results from a preliminary study showed that ankle push-off moments were higher when running in shoes with straight compared to curved carbon fiber plates. 41 This suggests the likelihood that there are some differences in the functions of curved and straight carbon fiber plates. However, both curved 14 , 16 , 17 and straight plates 13 , 30 have been shown to improve the energy cost of running.…”

Longitudinal bending stiffness does not affect running economy in Nike Vaporfly Shoes

“…While the effects of LBS are often evaluated with flat carbon-fiber plates, 24 curved plates can be expected to be more effective. Farina et al 32 showed that increased plate curvature can reduce net MTP joint work without increasing ankle plantarflexion moments, and recently Nigg et al 1 , 17 proposed a theory attributing the majority of VF's energetic benefit to the curved plate's “teeter−totter” effect. However, this theory is as of yet untested.…”

Effect of the Construction of Carbon Fiber Plate Insert to Midsole on Running Performance

“…Besides, some researchers also figured out that the effect of midsole thickness is about 1% for running economy [ 23 ]. The VF made runners trend more to midfoot or forefoot strike and has high requirements for the runner’s muscle strength because of its high rearfoot thickness and the strong propulsion structure of forefoot [ 24 ]. The previous research on the foot strike patterns demonstrated that the rearfoot strike pattern is mainly used among the prolonged runners in road races, with percentages ranging from 74.9% of runners in a professional half-marathon race [ 25 ], to over 90% of amateur runners in marathon distance events [ 26 , 27 ].…”