{"title":"The role of footwear in improving running economy: a systematic review with meta-analysis of controlled trials.","authors":"Liya Xu, Yifan Wang, Xu Wen","doi":"10.1038/s41598-025-88271-2","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This systematic review aimed to explore the impact of different types of footwear and footwear characteristics on the running economy (RE) of long-distance runners and providing guidance for running enthusiasts and clinical practice. A comprehensive search of Web of Science, PubMed, SPORTDiscous, SCOPUS, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases from inception to April 2024 was performed. Trials evaluating the RE of adults participating in long-distance running included comparing different footwear characteristics. This review followed the PRISMA statement. Two reviewers screened titles and abstracts to make a relevant shortlist, then retrieved and evaluated full texts against inclusion criteria for eligibility. Two independent reviewers evaluated the methodological quality of each included analysis by employing the Physiotherapy Evidence Database Scale (PEDro scale). The standardized mean difference (SMD) for the results of RE studies in each study was calculated. Of the 1338 records retrieved, 26 studies were identified in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Limited evidence indicated that compared with shod running, barefoot running (SMD = - 0.50 [95% CI - 0.86, - 0.14], P = 0.006) and minimalist running (SMD = - 0.62 [95% CI - 0.83, - 0.42], P < 0.00001) had a positive impact on RE. Compared with barefoot running, minimalist running did not show a beneficial effect (SMD = 0.37 [95% CI - 0.07, 0.81], P = 0.10) on RE. Additionally, compared with the control condition, RE showed some improvement with increased footwear longitudinal bending stiffness (SMD = - 0.53 [95% CI - 0.90, - 0.17], P = 0.005) and cushioning (SMD = - 0.33 [95% CI - 0.61, 0.06], P = 0.02). However, compared with control, RE did not change with footwear comfort (SMD = - 0.11 [95% CI - 0.42, 0.21], P = 0.51). Barefoot running or minimalist running may be more economical than shod running, high longitudinal bending stiffness and high cushioning shoes could improve RE.</p>","PeriodicalId":21811,"journal":{"name":"Scientific Reports","volume":"15 1","pages":"3963"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11787295/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Scientific Reports","FirstCategoryId":"103","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88271-2","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
This systematic review aimed to explore the impact of different types of footwear and footwear characteristics on the running economy (RE) of long-distance runners and providing guidance for running enthusiasts and clinical practice. A comprehensive search of Web of Science, PubMed, SPORTDiscous, SCOPUS, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases from inception to April 2024 was performed. Trials evaluating the RE of adults participating in long-distance running included comparing different footwear characteristics. This review followed the PRISMA statement. Two reviewers screened titles and abstracts to make a relevant shortlist, then retrieved and evaluated full texts against inclusion criteria for eligibility. Two independent reviewers evaluated the methodological quality of each included analysis by employing the Physiotherapy Evidence Database Scale (PEDro scale). The standardized mean difference (SMD) for the results of RE studies in each study was calculated. Of the 1338 records retrieved, 26 studies were identified in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Limited evidence indicated that compared with shod running, barefoot running (SMD = - 0.50 [95% CI - 0.86, - 0.14], P = 0.006) and minimalist running (SMD = - 0.62 [95% CI - 0.83, - 0.42], P < 0.00001) had a positive impact on RE. Compared with barefoot running, minimalist running did not show a beneficial effect (SMD = 0.37 [95% CI - 0.07, 0.81], P = 0.10) on RE. Additionally, compared with the control condition, RE showed some improvement with increased footwear longitudinal bending stiffness (SMD = - 0.53 [95% CI - 0.90, - 0.17], P = 0.005) and cushioning (SMD = - 0.33 [95% CI - 0.61, 0.06], P = 0.02). However, compared with control, RE did not change with footwear comfort (SMD = - 0.11 [95% CI - 0.42, 0.21], P = 0.51). Barefoot running or minimalist running may be more economical than shod running, high longitudinal bending stiffness and high cushioning shoes could improve RE.
本系统综述旨在探讨不同鞋型及鞋型特征对长跑运动员跑步经济性(RE)的影响,为跑步爱好者和临床实践提供指导。对Web of Science、PubMed、SPORTDiscous、SCOPUS和中国知网(CNKI)数据库进行了自建站至2024年4月的综合检索。评价成人参加长跑的RE的试验包括比较不同的鞋类特征。这次审查是在PRISMA声明之后进行的。两名审稿人筛选标题和摘要,形成相关的入围名单,然后根据入选标准检索和评估全文。两名独立审稿人采用物理治疗证据数据库量表(PEDro量表)评估每个纳入分析的方法学质量。计算各研究中RE研究结果的标准化平均差(SMD)。在检索到的1338份记录中,有26项研究在系统评价和荟萃分析中被确定。有限的证据表明,与穿鞋跑步相比,赤脚跑步(SMD = - 0.50 [95% CI - 0.86, - 0.14], P = 0.006)和极简跑步(SMD = - 0.62 [95% CI - 0.83, - 0.42], P
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