The Effects of Shoe Architecture on Impact Forces During Gait: A Continuation Study

In the current athletic footwear market, there exists a wide range of shoe architectures that offer a variety of options in terms of flexibility and support. The importance of footwear type has proved to be significant in the prevention of an assortment of injuries, including knee osteoarthritis [1, 2]. Footwear type has also been shown to affect the lower extremity kinematics as well as the regulation of leg stiffness for a subject during dynamic activities [3]. An important attribute used to categorize athletic footwear architecture is the inherent flexibility of the shoe. The natural flex observed in the sole of the shoe determines the level of flexibility; a more flexible shoe will flex closer to the mid-foot region while a shoe designed for stability will flex closer to the ball of the shoe.