Do Carbon-Plated Running Shoes with Different Characteristics Influence Physiological and Biomechanical Variables during a 10 km Treadmill Run?

Abstract

Footwear properties can influence physiological and biomechanical variables, which may lead to positive changes in distance running performance. One innovative development in running shoe technology is adding carbon fiber plates to increase midsole bending stiffness. However, there are only a few studies investigating the influence of shoe conditions on both physiological and biomechanical variables, simultaneously, when running for longer than 5 min or for distances > 1 km. Hence, the purpose of the current study was to investigate the influence of different running shoe concepts with carbon fiber plates on physiological and biomechanical parameters during a 10 km treadmill run. Twenty-three athletes participated in the study, which comprised four measurement days for each subject. On the first day, subjects performed a treadmill exhaustion test to determine maximum oxygen uptake. On the second, third, and fourth days, each subject ran 10 km at 70% of their maximum oxygen uptake in one of three shoe models. Significant differences were found between the shoe conditions for the biomechanical parameters, but not for the physiological parameters. It seems that runners adjusted their running styles to the shoe conditions during the 10 km run to reduce the load on the lower extremities without compromising their endurance performance. These results may have practical implications for runners, coaches, and shoe manufacturers.