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Editorial
Navigating the challenges and opportunities with ‘super shoes’: balancing performance gains with injury risk
  1. Tim Hoenig1,
  2. Amol Saxena2,
  3. Hannah M Rice3,
  4. Karsten Hollander4,
  5. Adam S Tenforde5
  1. 1 Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
  2. 2 Sutter Health, Palo Alto, California, USA
  3. 3 Department of Physical Performance, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway
  4. 4 MSH Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
  5. 5 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Adam S Tenforde, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; atenforde{at}mgh.harvard.edu

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2023-106875

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    The sport of running has been revolutionised by technologically advanced running shoes (TARS) that combine cushioning with a resilient midsole and a carbon fibre plate.1 These have become the footwear of choice for almost all high-level distance runners. Based on clinical observations and anecdotal evidence, concerns about running-related injuries have been raised.2 However, we are yet to have a discussion about these risks guided by an evidence base. We hope that this editorial increases awareness of potential medical issues related to TARS and encourages a scientific process to determine how best to ensure safety for our athletes.

    History of running footwear design

    Shoe innovation is not uncommon, with the earliest running shoes used for cross-country running dating back to the 19th century. In the early 20th century, rubber companies created mass-produced vulcanised sneakers especially for sports activities. In the 1960s and 1970s, with distance running becoming more popular, ethylene vinyl acetate foam technology and other shock-absorbing features found widespread application. More modern shoe design was based on assumptions that pronation may be harmful or that footwear should match foot posture. Subsequently, minimalist footwear became trendy, with an opposing push to supramaximal cushioning in recent years.

    Carbon-fibre plate embedded in the midsole foam—just another trend?

    TARS that use a curved carbon-fibre plate …

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    Footnotes

    • Twitter @hoenig_tim, @HMRice1, @k_hollander_, @AdamTenfordeMD

    • Contributors TH, AS, HMR, KH and AST contributed to design, contributed in writing and approved the final manuscript.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.