Injury Reduction Effectiveness of Selecting Running Shoes Based on Plantar Shape

The effect of three different levels of footwear stability on pain outcomes in women runners: a randomised control trial

“…The only other investigation to study the effect of different levels of footwear stability on the incidence of injury was conducted by Knapik et al ; however, there are considerable differences between this study and the present investigation which interfere with a direct comparison of results 12. Of particular note, Knapik's study uses a military population participating in basic training, and the assignment of shoes was not randomised across foot types; rather, assigned shoes in their experimental group was based on plantar foot shape only.…”

“…In fact, despite over 20 years of stability elements being incorporated in running footwear there is, as yet, no established clinically based evidence for their provision. Only one study conducted on a military population found that there were no differences in injury risk when selected categories of running shoes were assigned based on an individual's foot imprint compared with a control condition (stability shoe) 12. Motion control running footwear has yet to be proven to prevent running-related injuries 13…”

Foot pronation is not associated with increased injury risk in novice runners wearing a neutral shoe: a 1-year prospective cohort study

“…On the basis of their findings in a randomised controlled trial, persons running in motion control shoes sustained both a greater number of injuries and had a higher risk of missed training days than persons running in stability or neutral shoes. In another study, no significant difference in injury risk was found between persons who were selected to receive motion control, stability or neutral shoes based on the foot's plantar shape compared with persons who received a stability shoe regardless of plantar shape 6. This result was confirmed in two later studies 7 8…”

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

“…Stability shoes designed for normalarched individuals are midway between motion control and cushioned type shoes, containing some motion control features and cushioning characteristics. 23 We previously reported on studies conducted in US Army Basic Combat Training 16 and Air Force Basic Military Training 10 showing that assigning running shoes on the basis of plantar shape did not reduce the risk of trainingrelated injuries. The major purpose of the present study was to determine whether injury risk could be reduced in Marine Corps basic training (MCBT) by assigning running shoes based on the static weightbearing plantar foot shape.…”