Effect of midsole cushioning on ankle, knee, and hip joint work during running

Abstract

Footwear companies have altered midsole cushioning, offering both maximal and minimal shoes, in an attempt to reduce the risk of injury or enhance running performance. Researchers have investigated certain aspects of running biomechanics in these shoes, finding differences in ankle kinematics (Hannigan & Pollard, 2020), Achilles tendon forces (Sinclair et al., 2015), and patellofemoral joint loading (Sinclair et al., 2016) between shoes. Joint work, a measure of energy transfer through the joint, may also be important to consider when comparing running biomechanics. However, the effect of maximal and minimal shoes on ankle, knee and hip joint work during running has not been thoroughly studied to date.