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Asked by meg53 to Helen, Jenni, Mark, Martin, Stu on 14 Jun 2011.
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Helen O'Connor answered on 14 Jun 2011:
The others would know more about this than me as I am more interested in the other end of the body to the feet 🙂
I have to wear running shoes that correct my over-pronation (my feet roll inwards too much). I went on a running machine where they measure your gait (how you run) and I think that having the right shoes has helped me get less aches and pains from running.
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Mark Burnley answered on 14 Jun 2011:
We can test this by making people run barefoot. When they do this, they tend to land on the middle part of the foot or the toes, depending on the speed they are running, whereas when they wear shoes they tend to land on the heel, which is why running shoes typically have cushioning technology in the heel.
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Stuart Mourton answered on 14 Jun 2011:
to continue from Mark, high level athletes will have very different running shoes too. The sprinters have spiked running shoes that have very little give in them at all, whilst longer distance runners who still use the track will also ware spikes but have a bit more flexibility in them. Then the marathon runners will obviously have very high spec running trainers such as the ones Mark mentioned.
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Jenni Tilley answered on 14 Jun 2011:
Helen, do you think there is a physcological element to believing you have the best shoes (or other pieces of kit?) I think there must be in order to justify the number of different designs out there!
It terms of shoes, it’s not just about the cushioning effect – running shoes contain a layer of bouncy material to give runners an energy advantage. They also correct posture (like Helen’s shoes) because biomechanical engineers know that some ways of holding your body during running are better than others.
Do Oscar Pistorius’ prosthetic limbs count as ‘shoes’? They’re desgined very differently to shoes’s you’d buy in the shop!
Comments
olzz commented on :
think about it, if you wear no shoes you have less grip, on lets say the track. and also you are prone to injury more as your ankles arnt supported ect. sprinters where spikes which help make them stick to the ground, it helps alot when sprint starting, becuase you put your body out of its normal balance. and also because sprinters run on their tip toes more grip needed at the front, where as long distance will have very padded shoes to help support them, becuase they will be running longer then a few seconds. they still have spikes for long distance. but if you was to run bare foot for 1500m your feet would get sore after bashing them over and over if your not use to it, so shoes help you and comfort ever step you take 😛