Research Reveals Flaws in Running Shoe Heels Could Elevate Injury Risk

A recent study conducted by the Chair of Biomechanics at the University of Bayreuth has shed new light on the design quality of running shoes, specifically focusing on the heel segments. Analyzing over 100 models from various manufacturers, researchers discovered that more than a third of these shoes exhibited poor heel design, which might contribute to increased injury risks among runners. The findings, published in the journal Bioengineering, highlight the importance of optimal cushioning in the heel area, which plays a critical role in absorbing impact energy during running.

Runners depend heavily on their shoes to safeguard muscles and joints from the repetitive shocks experienced with each foot strike. Proper heel cushioning ensures that impact energy is absorbed effectively, preventing overloading. However, both excessively hard and overly soft heel materials can be problematic. Hard heels provide insufficient cushioning, while overly soft ones tend to bottom out, leading to increased ground contact and discomfort.

The study emphasizes that current testing standards, which evaluate heel impact with a fixed energy absorption value of five joules, are inadequate because runners generate varying impact energies. To address this, Professor Franz Konstantin Fuss and his team developed a new testing method that calculates the energy-to-force ratio to identify the optimal shock absorption point, or