ABSTRACT
Runners who pronate excessively are often prescribed footwear designed to regulate rearfoot motion to reduce risk of developing a running injury (Grau et al. 2008). Runners who do not pronate excessively during stance are often directed to, or prescribed, footwear that is termed neutral (Wischnia and Frederickson 2004). The designation neutral is presumably based on a rearfoot that is not maximally pronated from a neutral subtalar joint as much as it is for excessive pronators. However, the runner’s rearfoot angle is constantly changing while the foot is supporting load on the running surface. Just like a stopped clock is correct two times a day, once in the AM and once in the PM, a runner’s subtalar joint typically passes through neutral two times during stance. The supinated subtalar joint passes through neutral during initial pronation following foot strike and again during the rearfoot supination that accompanies hip, knee, ankle, and metatarsophalangeal joint extensions. For their footwear selection, runners would have more clarity if they considered attributes such as fit, cushioning, flexibility, durability, mass, influence on energetics, etc., instead of considering a running shoe designated as neutral. This chapter presents how specific running biomechanics imply specialized footwear needs other than fit
22.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 475 22.2 Footwear Flexibility ..................................................................................... 476
22.2.1 Barefoot Running Mechanics ........................................................... 476 22.2.2 Benefits Associated with Flexibility ................................................. 477
22.3 Midsole Cushioning ...................................................................................... 477 22.3.1 Attenuation of Running Impacts ...................................................... 477 22.3.2 Redistribution of Plantar Pressures .................................................. 481 22.3.3 Influence on Running Kinematics .................................................... 481
22.4 Running Shoe Outsole Traction and Durability ........................................... 483 22.5 Running Shoe Influence on Energetics .........................................................485 22.6 Summary ......................................................................................................485 Questions ................................................................................................................486 References ..............................................................................................................486
