ABSTRACT
Despite the fact that humans are capable of running without shoes and have done so competitively for thousands of years, the vast majority of modern-day athletes choose to wear shoes. Athletes wear shoes to protect feet from surface injury, mitigate the risk of overuse injury, and improve performance. Although athletic footwear is a multibillion dollar business, most footwear recommendations are based on conjecture and unsubstantiated claims.35 There exists a paucity of independent research to prove or disprove industry claims, especially given the ever-evolving trends in shoe designs. This chapter will review the anatomy and construction of the running shoe, basic types of shoe classication, factors to consider when selecting a running shoe, and an update on recent trend toward barefoot running and minimalist footwear (Table 25.1).
