Effects of a Curved Heel Shape in a Running Shoe on Biomechanical Variables and Comfort

Sihyun Ryu,Darren Stefanyshyn,Sejin Kong,Sang-Kyoon Park

doi:10.3390/app11083613

Sihyun Ryu, Darren Stefanyshyn + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/app11083613

Copy DOI

Abstract

(1) Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a rounded heel shoe (RHS) and rounded lateral heel shoe (RLHS) on impact and lower extremity stability as well as their relationships with comfort during running. (2) Methods: Twenty healthy male adults participated in the study. The data were collected using eight infrared cameras while participants were running at a speed of 2.7 m/s in three shoe conditions on an instrumented treadmill. (3) Results: The peak vertical ground reaction force (PVGRF) was statistically smaller for the RHS and RLHS compared with the normal shoes (NS) (p < 0.05). The range of motion of inversion–eversion at the ankle joint was statistically smaller for the RLHS compared with the NS and RHS (p < 0.05). Increased dorsiflexion of the ankle joint at heel contact was negatively related to the comfort of a running shoe, and increased dorsi-plantarflexion ROM was positively related to comfort. (4) Conclusions: Based on these results, a curved heel shape of a running shoe may provide a positive influence on the biomechanical function and the comfort of running shoes. Future study, including measurements of lower extremity muscle activations and long-term comfort, would be beneficial to help validate current findings and develop further applications.

Highlights

Impact is absorbed through ankle joint eversion with dorsi-flexion from when the heel contacts the ground until mid-stance [1]
There were significant differences between the shoes, F = 5.193 (p = 0.010), the effect size was η p 2 = 0.147, and the statistical power was = 0.589 with the peak vertical ground reaction force (PVGRF) of both rounded heel shoe (RHS) and rounded lateral heel shoe (RLHS) being statistically smaller than normal shoes (NS) (p < 0.05)
This study aimed to investigate the effects of a rounded heel running shoe on impact and lower extremity biomechanics as well as their relationship with comfort during running

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Impact is absorbed through ankle joint eversion with dorsi-flexion from when the heel contacts the ground until mid-stance [1]. It has been suggested that excessive eversion of the foot may induce limb injury during running [2,3,4]. A strategy to reduce impact and maintain lower extremity joint stability is necessary to reduce injury risk factors and run efficiently [5,6]

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion