title: Rocker shoe, minimalist shoe, and standard running shoe: a comparison of running economy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Running with rocker shoes is believed to prevent lower limb injuries. However, it is not clear how running in these shoes affects the energy expenditure. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to assess the effects of rocker shoes on running economy in comparison with standard and minimalist running shoes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-over design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen endurance female runners (age=23.6 ± 3 years), who were inexperienced in running with rocker shoes and with minimalist/barefoot running, participated in this study. Oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, heart rate and rate of perceived exertion were measured while participants completed a 6-min sub-maximal treadmill running test for each footwear condition. The data of the last 2 min of each shoe condition were averaged for analysis. A linear mixed model was used to compare differences among three footwear conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oxygen consumption during running with rocker shoes was on average 4.5% higher than with the standard shoes (p<0.001) and 5.6% higher than with the minimalist shoe (p<0.001). No significant differences were found in heart rate and rate of perceived exertion across three shoe conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Female runners, who are not experienced in running with the rocker shoes and minimalist shoes, show more energy expenditure during running with the rocker shoes compared with the standard and minimalist shoes. As the studied shoes were of different masses, part of the effect of increased energy expenditure with the rocker shoe is likely to be due to its larger mass as compared with standard running shoes and minimalist shoes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: s.sobhani@umcg.nl.
authors.forename: Sobhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sobhani
authors.affiliation: Center for Sports Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Steef
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bredeweg
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; Center for Sports Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rienk
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dekker
authors.affiliation: Center for Sports Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Bas
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kluitenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van den Heuvel
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; School of Sports Studies, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hijmans
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Klaas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Postema
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D012775:Shoes; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide
keywords: Barefoot running; Energy expenditure; Exercise test; Rocker profile