HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:
Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cook, S. D. Articles by Brunet, M. E. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Cook, S. D. Articles by Brunet, M. E.

Shock absorption characteristics of running shoes

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana

Marcus A. Kester, MS

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana

Michael E. Brunet, MD

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana

The change in shock absorption properties of running shoes was evaluated as a function of miles run. Differ ent models of running shoes encompassing a wide range in retail price were obtained and mechanically tested to simulate the repeated heel strikes of running. The energy absorbed by the shoes was determined from the area under the load deformation curve at the equivalent of 0, 5, 10, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 200, 250, 300, and 500 miles of running. Shoes were also tested at similar intervals after having been worn by volunteers during normal training.

An approximate 33% difference in the initial shock absorption was observed in the different shoe models. In general, the shoes retained approximately 75% of their initial shock absorption capability after 50 miles of simulated running, and approximately 67% after 100 to 150 miles. Between 250 and 500 miles the shoes retained less than 60% of their initial shock absorption capacity. No differences in shock absorption character istics were apparent based upon either shoe price or the manufacturer model. The results of shoes tested by the volunteer runners also showed a marked reduc tion in shock absorption with mileage. The loss, how ever, was not as great as in the machine-simulated running, with approximately 70% of initial shock ab sorption retained at 500 miles.