1. The Influence of "Super-Shoes" and Foot Strike Pattern on Metabolic Cost and Joint Mechanics in Competitive Female Runners.
- Author
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Martinez E 3rd, Hoogkamer W, Powell DW, and Paquette MR
- Subjects
- Humans, Female, Biomechanical Phenomena, Adult, Young Adult, Ankle Joint physiology, Gait physiology, Oxygen Consumption physiology, Running physiology, Shoes, Energy Metabolism physiology, Foot physiology
- Abstract
Purpose: The objective of this study is to assess the influence of "super-shoes" on metabolic cost and joint mechanics in competitive female runners and to understand how foot strike pattern may influence the footwear effects., Methods: Eighteen competitive female runners ran four 5-min bouts on a force instrumented treadmill at 12.9 km·h -1 in 1) Nike Vaporfly Next% 2™ (SUPER) and 2) Nike Pegasus 38™ (CON) in a randomized and mirrored order., Results: Metabolic power was improved by 4.2% ( P < 0.001; d = 0.43) and metatarsophalangeal (MTP) negative work ( P < 0.001; d = 1.22), ankle negative work ( P = 0.001; d = 0.67), and ankle positive work ( P < 0.001; d = 0.97) were all smaller when running in SUPER compared with CON. There was no correlation between foot strike pattern and the between-shoe (CON to SUPER) percentage change for metabolic power ( r = 0.093, P = 0.715)., Conclusions: Metabolic power improved by 4.2% in "super-shoes" (but only by ~3.2% if controlling for shoe mass differences) in this cohort of competitive female runners, which is a smaller improvement than previously observed in men. The reduced mechanical demand at the MTP and ankle in "super-shoes" are consistent with previous literature and may explain or contribute to the metabolic improvements observed in "super-shoes"; however, foot strike pattern was not a moderating factor for the metabolic improvements of "super-shoes." Future studies should directly compare the metabolic response among different types of "super-shoes" between men and women., (Copyright © 2024 by the American College of Sports Medicine.)
- Published
- 2024
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