Running Shoes Research Articles

Five Key Characteristics to Consider when Purchasing a Running Shoe.

The sheer number of running shoe options and the amount of information pertaining to shoe wear and musculoskeletal health are overwhelming. Although there is no “perfect” shoe for all runners, emerging evidence suggests that particular shoe characteristics may help foster healthy running patterns (3). The shoe should protect the runner from injury and allow the feet to do the work of controlling the motion while in stance phase of the gait cycle. Five key characteristics of shoes that promote healthy running motion are as follows: 1) Minimal heel-to-toe drop (this refers to the thickness difference between the heel cushion and the toe cushion; shoes with 6 mm or less are considered “minimal”); 2) Neutral (shoes do not contain stability or motion control elements that interfere with normal foot motion) (1); 3) Relatively light weight (shoes with weights >8 to 10 oz for women and men’s sizes of 8 to 9, respectively); 4) Wide toe box (the forefoot of the shoe should allow the runner to wiggle toes); and 5) Cushioning (excessive cushioning permits extra motion of the lower extremity during the stance phase and dampens the proprioceptive feedback, whereas too little cushioning may be uncomfortable if the runner is not used to running with minimal cushion). To test whether the shoe is too narrow, remove the shoe insert and step on it. If the foot hangs over the side of the insert, the shoe is too narrow. Running shoes should facilitate soft foot strikes, joint flexion in the lower extremity joints (2), controlled motion, and foot strength. These shoe characteristics also may facilitate muscle recruitment from lower body muscles that are unaccustomed to loading. Therefore, a slow transition from current shoes to shoes described here may be required to prevent excessive muscle soreness and foot discomfort.

A consensus definition and rating scale for minimalist shoes.

BackgroundWhile minimalist running shoes may have an influence on running biomechanics and on the incidence of overuse injuries, the term "minimalist" is currently used without standardisation. The objectives of this study were to reach a consensus on a standard definition of minimalist running shoes, and to develop and validate a rating scale that could be used to determine the degree of minimalism of running shoes, the Minimalist Index (MI).MethodsFor this modified Delphi study, 42 experts from 11 countries completed four electronic questionnaires on an optimal definition of minimalist shoes and on elements to include within the MI. Once MI was developed following consensus, 85 participants subjectively ranked randomly assigned footwear models from the most to the least minimalist and rated their degree of minimalism using visual analog scales (VAS), before evaluating the same footwear models using MI. A subsample of thirty participants reassessed the same shoes on another occasion. Construct validity and inter- and intra-rater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients [ICC]; Gwet's AC1) of MI were evaluated.ResultsThe following definition of minimalist shoes was agreed upon by 95 % of participants: "Footwear providing minimal interference with the natural movement of the foot due to its high flexibility, low heel to toe drop, weight and stack height, and the absence of motion control and stability devices". Characteristics to be included in MI were weight, flexibility, heel to toe drop, stack height and motion control/stability devices, each subscale carrying equal weighing (20 %) on final score. Total MI score was highly correlated with VAS (r = 0.91). A significant rank effect (p < 0.001) confirmed the MI's discriminative validity. Excellent intra- and inter-rater reliability was found for total MI score (ICC = 0.84-0.99) and for weight, stack height, heel to toe drop and flexibility subscales (AC1 = 0.82-0.99), while good inter-rater reliability was found for technologies (AC1 = 0.73).ConclusionThis standardised definition of minimalist shoes developed by an international panel of experts will improve future research on minimalist shoes and clinical recommendations. MI's adequate validity and reliability will allow distinguishing running shoes based on their degree of minimalism, and may help to decrease injuries related to footwear transition.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13047-015-0094-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Six Weeks Habituation of Simulated Barefoot Running Induces Neuromuscular Adaptations and Changes in Foot Strike Patterns in Female Runners.

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to examine the effects of a 6-week training program of simulated barefoot running (SBR) on running kinetics in habitually shod (wearing shoes) female recreational runners.Material/MethodsTwelve female runners age 25.7±3.4 years gradually increased running distance in Vibram FiveFingers minimal shoes over a 6-week period. The kinetic analysis of treadmill running at 10 Km/h was performed pre- and post-intervention in shod running, non-habituated SBR, and habituated SBR conditions. Spatiotemporal parameters, ground reaction force components, and electromyography (EMG) were measured in all conditions.ResultsPost-intervention data indicated a significant decrease across time in the habituation SBR for EMG activity of the tibialis anterior (TA) in the pre-activation and absorptive phase of running (P<0.001). A significant increase was denoted in the pre-activation amplitude of the gastrocnemius (GAS) between the shod running, unhabituated SBR, and habituated SBR. Six weeks of SBR was associated with a significant decrease in the loading rates and impact forces. Additionally, SBR significantly decrease the stride length, step duration, and flight time, and stride frequency was significantly higher compared to shod running.ConclusionsThe findings of this study indicate that changes in motor patterns in previously habitually shod runners are possible and can be accomplished within 6 weeks. Non-habituation SBR did not show a significant neuromuscular adaptation in the EMG activity of TA and GAS as manifested after 6 weeks of habituated SBR.

Effect of different types of shoes on balance among soccer players.

in soccer, balance ability is important to reduce non-contact injuries. The effect of footwear on balance is poorly understood in this sport. Soccer boots and futsal trainers need to guarantee a good grip on compliant surfaces. Running shoes are designed to reduce friction on rigid su rfaces. The purpose of the present study was to investigate these types of shoes on balance ability. twenty-four healthy male volunteers were recruited from amateur soccer teams. They were ask to perform the BESS (Balance Error Scoring System) test to measure the number of instability episodes in 6 conditions: double-leg, single-leg, and tandem stances on firm and foam surfaces. Anova with factor (several shoes) and Bonferroni were used to compare the means of two subtotal scores (firm and foam surface) and the final total score (BESS). the three shoe models led to greater stability than when the subject was barefoot (p=0.001). Only on the firm surface the soccer boots were statistically better than futsal trainers (p=0.009). the lack of stability while barefoot could be explained by the fact that with shoes there is a greater surface area, which produces a sensory filter that leads to posture modifications to improve stability. The greater stability, that was found in the three types of footwear, could be guaranteed by the design to reduce friction (for running shoes) and by the presence of studs (for soccer boots and futsal trainers).

Application of Topological Optimization Technique to Running Shoe Designing

This paper describes the application of topological optimization method to heel counter in the practical designing process of running shoes. The heel counter has an important role to control the excessive calcaneous eversion in a series of running motion. This control is called as shoe stability, which is one of the most important requirement functions in shoe designing. At the same time shoe weight should be reduced because the runners’ fatigue can be intimately interrelated with shoe weight. Both these functions, stability and lightness are conflicting parameters. The optimization method has been developed to satisfy some requirement functions and widely applied to industrial fields. By using the topological optimization method, the optimized heel counter with enough stability and weight reduction was practically designed. In order to check the validity of the counter manufactured, the stability of running shoes with the heel counter was quantitatively evaluated in the practical running motion analyses and compared with that of the conventional heel counter. Therefore it was confirmed that the topological optimization method was so powerful tool in the practical designing process of running shoes.

The running economy difference between running barefoot and running shod

Kalina, T., Cacek, J., & Kmetova, L. (2015). Comparison of maximum lactate between course navette test and hoff test in soccer players at 2600 meters above sea level. J. Hum. Sport Exerc., 9(Proc1), pp.S399S403. Barefoot (BF) running is very popular topic among runners and coaches, and very often discussed in papers and even mass-media point is health aspect. The aim of this study is verify influence BF on physiological indicators. Nine women (age 21.1 ± 1.79 y.o., weight 59.7 ± 5.86 kg, height 164.8 ± 4.02 cm, no previous BF running experience, athletes, non-runners) completed two tests of running economy (RE) in minimal gap of 48 hours. Test of RE consisted of dynamic stretching warm-up and 7 minutes run on treadmill (constant velocity 7 km·h -1 , inclination +1 %) BF and shoed (RS). Hearth rate (HR; beats·min-1) and oxygen uptake (RE, running economy; ml·kg-1·min-1) were collected in last two minutes of each test. There were found insignificant differences (α = .05) in HR (BF 160.92 ± 22.62 vs. RS 163.5 ± 20.99; p = .214) a RE (BF 31.5 ± 2.65 vs RS 30.21 ± 2.91; p = .086). There were been discovered seven individual lower values of RE in BF, as well as same number of lower values of HR (BF). Running barefoot is insignificant economical in among non-experienced barefoot women athletes. Key words JOGGING, COST OF RUNNING, ENERGY, WOMEN, BREATH-BY-BREATH, TREADMILL.

Comparison of Barefoot vs. Shod Gait on Spinal Dynamics Using DIERS Formetric 4D and DIERS Pedoscan Systems

Barefoot running is increasing in popularity within the running community, yet the biomechanical differences compared to traditional shod running are not well understood. This study investigates the changes in spinal dynamics during the gait cycle of runners wearing traditional running shoes (shod) compared to those wearing no shoes (barefoot). Pedal force distribution, kyphotic angle, lordotic angle, and trunk inclination were measured during shod and barefoot gait at three different speeds on a treadmill. Subjects were examined using the DIERS Formetric 4D system and DIERS Pedoscan system. While running barefoot, pedal force distribution analysis showed that 21.0% more force load goes through the forefoot vs. a 10.2% increase in forefoot force with shod (p = 0.0006). At 8.0 km·h-1 the average kyphotic angle was 1.6 degrees greater under barefoot conditions vs. shod conditions (p = 0.008). At 8.0 km·h-1 the average lordotic angle was 0.8 degrees greater under barefoot conditions vs. shod conditions (p = 0.05). Trunk inclination was 0.6 degrees and 0.8 degrees greater under barefoot conditions compared to shod conditions at natural speeds (p = 0.005) and 8.0 km·h-1 (p = 0.015), respectively. Barefoot runners show an increased force load in the forefoot, eliciting a forefoot strike pattern while running barefoot compared to shod running, and it was also found that barefoot runners have reduced trunk inclination. These dynamic changes allow for a more spring-like effect for barefoot runners creating a less transient and slower rise in force. In contrast, a heel strike pattern yields a rapid and high impact collision between heel and ground. As a result, barefoot running translates into less stress on the joints of the lower extremity and back and therefore less risk of injury.

Muscle activation of plantar flexors in response to different strike patterns during barefoot and shod running in medial tibial stress syndrome

Muscle activation of plantar flexors in response to different strike patterns during barefoot and shod running in medial tibial stress syndrome

B-13 ヒルランニング動作分析に基づくシューズグリップ性設計(シューズ)

In trail running, runners often meet slippery condition, such as uneven, wet, muddy surfaces with slope. On these surfaces, slip/fall risk gets drastically higher and running performance gets decreased due to traction loss between shoe and floor. Therefore, grip property is crucially important function in the designing process of trail running shoe. The purpose of this study is to clarify grip generation mechanism for trail running shoe designing based on uphill and downhill running (hill running) motion analyses. Ground reaction force (GRF) distributions in hill running were corrected by using a specific sensor shoe system. In comparison of GRF distribution between hill and flat surface running, higher horizontal force was produced in forefoot medial side area at kicking phase during uphill running. On the other hand in downhill, higher horizontal force got higher in lateral side of fore-midfoot area at the beginning of contact phase than that in flat surface running. Interestingly, it is confirmed that force direction of these areas was quite different between hill and flat surface running. In order to check the validity of obtained results, grip properties were evaluated with two pair of developed test shoes having different tread patterns. As a result, it was concluded that the oblique shaped tread patterns corresponding to horizontal force direction on hill running motion efficiently increase grip.

China's Migrant Workers' Legal Rights Awareness on the Rise

INTERNATIONAL union rights Page 6 Volume 22 Issue 4 2015 Guangdong’s industrial cities are undergoing deindustrialisation, leaving workers stranded with unpaid wages and years of entitlements Protests over social insurance and housing funds In April 2014, another new type of demand erupted —protests over unpaid or underpaid social insurance and housing fund contributions by employers. More than 40,000 workers went on strike at a huge factory complex in Guangdong Province owned by the Yue Yuen company. This is the world’s largest footwear manufacturer, which makes running shoes for most of the big brands. It was the largest strike action recorded in Guangdong in the last three decades since China opened its door to foreign investors. The strike lasted for seventeen days, after a worker discovered that the company had not been contributing enough toward her retirement. The Chinese law is quite generous to employees: employers’ contribution to a retirement fund should range from 12 percent to 18 percent of the employees’ total wage depending on the locality. The local government , the official trade union and the police joined forces to suppress the strikers. The police brought police dogs into the factory and dormitories to force workers back to the assembly lines A year after the Yue Yuen strike, 5000 workers at another shoe factory demanded a different type of management contribution worth 5 percent of salary – toward a housing fund mandated by law. Together these two types of accumulated debts owed to thousands of workers run into many millions of dollars, and have serious implications for a company’s finances. For many years the workers have not paid much attention to these two funds, but as the workers age (until a dozen years ago almost all of them were in their 20s), they increasingly are concerned about being short-changed. Deindustrialisation The strikes in Guangdong have been exacerbated by the troubled economy of Guangdong’s industrial cities, which are undergoing deindustrialisation , with empty factory and commercial buildings marring some cities. The soaring cost of living in this southern province necessitates a minimum wage higher than in the rest of China, and foreign companies that rely on cheap labour have been relocating to less expensive inland provinces or have moved their factory operations overseas to South and Southeast Asia. Vietnam, for instance has overtaken China as the number one exporter of garments to the US market. As investors in Guangdong move their factory production elsewhere, some simply refuse to honour their obligations, leaving workers stranded with unpaid wages and years of entitlements. The workers’ only solution is to take to street action before the companies leave. M ass protests of all types have been increasing in China. Labour protests take up about a third, and the number of these protest actions has been rising sharply, but they have all been isolated plant-level incidents. Most of these are staged by workers from China’s countryside or small towns who have migrated to cities in search of work. They make up about 60 percent of China’s non-agricultural workforce, providing almost all the workers in the export industries that fill our shops with goods. Guangdong Province, just north of Hong Kong, has the largest number of migrant factory workers and has witnessed the largest number of protests. Protests over bread and butter issues During the past two decades, these protests have been sporadic and comparatively peaceful—until recently. The vast majority of their demands have been over management violations of China’s labour laws—unpaid wages, under-paid wages, or poor and unsafe work conditions. Workers usually first try to reason with management; and when stone-walled, they send representative to local government authorities to seek help. Only when they are still ignored do they take to the streets, blocking highways, because traffic disruption is one sure strategy to force the authorities to pay attention. Often the police get mobilised, and scuffles and arrests follow. Compared to workers in other Asian countries such as Cambodia, Indonesia and Bangladesh, Chinese workers have been comparatively compliant . They have not targeted the government for an increase in the legal minimum wage. They have not asked to eliminate China’s household registration...

Pressure Distribution Under the Feet on the Treadmill Walking with Unstable Shoes and Regular Running Shoes in Different Conditions

The aim of this study was to test if there is a significant change in the foot loading in a shoe with an unstable construction to flat soled shoes. Measurements were performed in a group of ten healthy women. Interaction between the sole and the insole was observed when using PEDAR-x system. Measurements were carried out on the treadmill (velocity: 5 and 7km h-1, inclination: 0 and 10%). Measured variables were: peak pressure, maximum force in the vertical direction, maximum force in the vertical direction in the area below the heel bone, stride and stance. Peak pressure in unstable shoes is smaller in comparison to normal shoes. For maximal vertical force the dependence on both the speed and on the slope was found to be positive and significant. No significant dependence on the shoe type was proven. Maximal vertical force under the heel was detected as strongly statistically dependent on the velocity; the dependence on the slope and shoe type was significant (negative) too. Stride and stance duration are dependent on the shoe type. No significant dependence on the slope was proven. Unstable footwear may be an effective therapeutic tool for elimination of pressure below the heel.

Does wearing shoes affect your biomechanical efficiency?

Studies involving minimalist shoes have dramatically increased this past 10 years. While a deeper knowledge of the related modifications has ensued regarding the kinematics, electromyographic, and dynamic patterns, little is known regarding the modifications at the muscle forces and muscle fiber levels. The aim of the present study was to assess at a muscular level the modifications brought up when running barefoot, using 0mm midsole height running shoe, or using classical midsole height running shoes. An EMG-Driven model that combines the kinematics, dynamics, and electromyographic data was used to estimate the Triceps Surae (TS) muscle forces and fiber behavior during running using different footwear conditions. Despite differences at the joint level between barefoot and shod running when looking at ankle joint range of motion, or foot-ground angle at touchdown, the results showed no effect of footwear neither on the maximal muscle forces nor on the relative amount of force produced by each muscle within the TS muscle group when wearing different footwear. On the contrary, different behaviors of muscle fibers were shown with lower amplitudes of fiber lengths for the Gastrocnemii biarticular muscles when running barefoot. This particular results reveal that wearing a shoe, even with a very thin sole, could deeply modify the intricate muscle–tendon mechanics of running.

Effect of training in minimalist footwear on oxygen consumption during walking and running.

The present study sought to examine the effect of 5 weeks of training with minimalist footwear on oxygen consumption during walking and running. Thirteen college-aged students (male n = 7, female n = 6, age: 21.7±1.4 years, height: 168.9±8.8 cm, weight: 70.4±15.8 kg, VO2max: 46.6±6.6 ml·kg−1·min−1) participated in the present investigation. The participants did not have experience with minimalist footwear. Participants underwent metabolic testing during walking (5.6 km·hr−1), light running (7.2 km·hr−1), and moderate running (9.6 km·hr−1). The participants completed this assessment barefoot, in running shoes, and in minimalist footwear in a randomized order. The participants underwent 5 weeks of training with the minimalist footwear. Afterwards, participants repeated the metabolic testing. Data was analyzed via repeated measures ANOVA. The analysis revealed a significant (F4,32= 7.576, =0.408, p ≤ 0.001) interaction effect (time × treatment × speed). During the initial assessment, the minimalist footwear condition resulted in greater oxygen consumption at 9.6 km·hr−1 (p ≤ 0.05) compared to the barefoot condition, while the running shoe condition resulted in greater oxygen consumption than both the barefoot and minimalist condition at 7.2 and 9.6 km·hr−1. At post-testing the minimalist footwear was not different at any speed compared to the barefoot condition (p> 0.12). This study suggests that initially minimalist footwear results in greater oxygen consumption than running barefoot, however; with utilization the oxygen consumption becomes similar.

Acute effect of different minimalist shoes on foot strike pattern and kinematics in rearfoot strikers during running

Despite the growing interest in minimalist shoes, no studies have compared the efficacy of different types of minimalist shoe models in reproducing barefoot running patterns and in eliciting biomechanical changes that make them differ from standard cushioned running shoes. The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effects of different footwear models, marketed as “minimalist” by their manufacturer, on running biomechanics. Six running shoes marketed as barefoot/minimalist models, a standard cushioned shoe and the barefoot condition were tested. Foot–/shoe–ground pressure and three-dimensional lower limb kinematics were measured in experienced rearfoot strike runners while they were running at 3.33 m · s−1 on an instrumented treadmill. Physical and mechanical characteristics of shoes (mass, heel and forefoot sole thickness, shock absorption and flexibility) were measured with laboratory tests. There were significant changes in foot strike pattern (described by the strike index and foot contact angle) and spatio-temporal stride characteristics, whereas only some among the other selected kinematic parameters (i.e. knee angles and hip vertical displacement) changed accordingly. Different types of minimalist footwear models induced different changes. It appears that minimalist footwear with lower heel heights and minimal shock absorption is more effective in replicating barefoot running.

Shoe drop has opposite influence on running pattern when running overground or on a treadmill.

Minimalist running shoes are designed to induce a foot strike made more with the forepart of the foot. The main changes made on minimalist shoe consist in decreasing the height difference between fore and rear parts of the sole (drop). Barefoot and shod running have been widely compared on overground or treadmill these last years, but the key characteristic effects of minimalist shoes have been yet little studied. The purpose of this study is to find whether the shoe drop has the same effect regardless of the task: overground or treadmill running. Twelve healthy male subjects ran with three shoes of different drops (0, 4, 8 mm) and barefoot on a treadmill and overground. Vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) (transient peak and loading rate) and lower limb kinematics (foot, ankle and knee joint flexion angles) were observed. Opposite footwear effects on loading rate between the tasks were observed. Barefoot running induced higher loading rates during overground running than the highest drop condition, while it was the opposite during treadmill running. Ankle plantar flexion and knee flexion angles at touchdown were higher during treadmill than overground running for all conditions, except for barefoot which did not show any difference between the tasks. Shoe drop appears to be a key parameter influencing running pattern, but its effects on vGRF differ depending on the task (treadmill vs. overground running) and must be considered with caution. Unlike shod conditions, kinematics of barefoot condition was not altered by treadmill running explaining opposite conclusions between the tasks.

In-shoe multi-segment foot kinematics of children during the propulsive phase of walking and running

Certain styles of children’s shoes reduce 1st metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) and midfoot motion during propulsion of walking. However, no studies have investigated if the splinting effect of shoes on children’s 1st MTPJ and midfoot motion occurs during running. This study investigated the effect of sports shoes on multi-segment foot kinematics of children during propulsion of walking and running. Twenty children walked and ran at a self-selected velocity while barefoot and shod in a random order. Reflective markers were used to quantify sagittal plane motion of the 1st MTPJ and three-dimensional motion of the midfoot and ankle. Gait velocity increased during shod walking and running and was considered a covariate in the statistical analysis. Shoes reduced 1st MTPJ motion during propulsion of walking from 36.0° to 10.7° and during running from 31.5° to 12.6°. Midfoot sagittal plane motion during propulsion reduced from 22.5° to 6.2° during walking and from 27.4° to 9.6° during running. Sagittal plane ankle motion during propulsion increased during shod running from 26.7° to 34.1°. During propulsion of walking and running, children’s sports shoes have a splinting effect on 1st MTPJ and midfoot motion which is partially compensated by an increase in ankle plantarflexion during running.

Influence of Running Shoes Made of Different Materials on Athletes’ Sprint Speed

Running shoes affect athletes’ sprint speed to a great extent, and running shoes made of different materials show different performance. Sprint is a highly explosive sport with great explosive power and great stress on feet, and thus shoes have great impacts on sprint. Based on main materials of current running shoes, this paper discusses about the influence of running shoes made of different materials on athletes’ sprint speed in terms of spike, sole and vamp etc. by athletes’ self-comparison experiment. Results show that athletes will run faster with greater spike friction, better damping effects of sole and better vamp breathability under the same conditions.

Post-marathon wearing of Masai Barefoot Technology shoes facilitates recovery from race-induced fatigue: an evaluation utilizing a visual analog scale.

PurposeTo investigate the potential benefit of post-race wearing of unstable shoes (Masai Barefoot Technology [MBT]) on recovery from marathon race–induced fatigue.Patients and methodsForty-five runners who participated in a full marathon race were divided into three groups: 1) MBT shoes, 2) trail running shoes, and 3) control (CON). Participants ran a full marathon with their own running shoes, and then put on the assigned shoes immediately after the race. They continued to wear the assigned shoes for the ensuing 3 days. The CON group wore their usual shoes. Estimates of post-race fatigue were made by the participants on questionnaires that utilized a visual analog scale. Estimates were made just after the race, as well as for the next 3 days.ResultsThe subjective fatigue of the MBT group was lower than that of the CON (P<0.05) or trail running shoe groups (P<0.05) on day 3.ConclusionMBT shoe intervention can promote recovery from the fatigue induced by running a full marathon.

Effects of Right Lower Limb Orthopedic Immobilization on Braking Function: An On-The-Road Experimental Study With Healthy Volunteers

Little is known about how immobilization of the right lower limb might affect driving. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of 2 types of immobilization on the emergency braking time of healthy subjects during actual driving conditions. The emergency braking times of 14 healthy volunteers were assessed in a closed circuit under 3 conditions: wearing running shoes, wearing an Aircast Walker®, or wearing a walking cast on their right lower limb. An instrumented car was used to measure the emergency braking times during braking tests with and without a distractor. The foot movement times were significantly increased with both immobilization devices compared with the running shoe (p < .01). The median total braking time with the running shoe during emergency braking without a distractor was 0.452 (interquartile range, 25th to 75th [IQR], 0.413 to 0.472) second. The results obtained with the Aircast Walker® or the walking cast were significantly longer (p < .01), at 0.480 (IQR, 0.431 to 0.537) second and 0.512 (IQR, 0.451 to 0.535) second, respectively. When a distractor was added, the total braking time with the running shoe, Aircast Walker®, and walking cast was 0.489 (IQR, 0.429 to 0.575), 0.516 (IQR, 0.459 to 0.586), and 0.510 (IQR, 0.469 to 0.570) second, respectively, with no statistically significant differences among these 3 conditions. Wearing an immobilization device on the right lower limb minimally lengthens the emergency braking time in healthy drivers under actual driving conditions. Clinicians must nonetheless exercise caution when advising a driver wearing an orthopedic immobilization, because driving a motor vehicle is a complex psychomotor task that goes well beyond the emergency braking time.

Influence of running shoes and cross-trainers on Achilles tendon forces during running compared with military boots

Military recruits are known to be susceptible to Achilles tendon pathology. The British Army have introduced footwear models, the PT-03 (cross-trainer) and PT1000 (running shoes), in an attempt to reduce...