title: Adaptation of running pattern to the drop of standard cushioned shoes: A randomised controlled trial with a 6-month follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  While several cross-sectional studies have investigated the acute effects of shoe drop on running biomechanics, the long-term consequences are currently unknown. This study aimed to investigate if the drop of standard cushioned shoes induces specific adaptations in running technique over a six-month period in leisure-time runners.
  
  
  METHODS
  Double-blinded randomised controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants (n=59) received a pair of shoes with a heel-to-toe drop of 10mm (D10), 6mm (D6) or 0mm (D0) and were followed-up regarding running training over 6 months or 500km, whichever came first. Spatio-temporal variables and kinematics (foot/ground, ankle and knee joint angles) were investigated while running at preferred speed on a treadmill before and after the follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The participants ran 332±178km in the study shoes between pre- and post-tests. There was no shoe version by time interaction for any of the spatio-temporal variables nor for lower limb angles at initial ground contact. A small but significant shoe drop effect was found for knee abduction at mid-stance (p=0.032), as it decreased for the D0 version (-0.3±3.1 vs. -1.3±2.6°) while it increased for the D6 (0.3±2.7 vs. 1.3±3.1°) and D10 version (-0.2±3.2 vs. 0.5±3.1°). However, none of the pairwise comparisons was significant in the post-hoc analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Apart from knee abduction at mid-stance, no specific adaptation in spatio-temporal variables and kinematics was found between the three shoe versions during this 6-month follow-up. Thus, shoe drop of standard cushioned shoes does not seem to influence running biomechanics in the long term.
authors.affiliation: Luxembourg Institute of Health, Sports Medicine Research Laboratory, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, Luxembourg. Electronic address: laurent.malisoux@lih.lu.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Malisoux
authors.affiliation: Luxembourg Institute of Health, Sports Medicine Research Laboratory, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gette
authors.affiliation: Decathlon, Movement Sciences Laboratory, Villeneuve d'Asq, France.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chambon
authors.affiliation: Luxembourg Institute of Health, Sports Medicine Research Laboratory, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, Luxembourg; Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, Sports Clinic, Luxembourg; International University of Health, Exercise and Sports (LUNEX), Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Urhausen
authors.affiliation: Luxembourg Institute of Health, Sports Medicine Research Laboratory, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Theisen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000502:physiology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D012775:Shoes
keywords: Biomechanics; Foot strike pattern; Longitudinal study; Running kinematics; Running shoes; Running technique