| A study published in the December 2009 issue | | | | This may serve as a call for shoemakers to redesign |
| of PM&R: The journal of injury, function, and | | | | their products, making them more safe for runners. |
| rehabilitation concluded that the use of modern | | | | The study pointed to the attributes of the shoes as |
| running shoes could cause damage to knee, hip, and | | | | the possible cause of the problem, including elevated |
| ankle joints. The study, conducted on 68 healthy | | | | heels and raised arches. The added material in running |
| adult runners, showed surprising results. | | | | shoes may counteract the body's natural response to |
| For the study, subjects were observed using a | | | | running, in the end doing more harm than good. |
| treadmill with a motion analysis system. None of the | | | | The increased stress on knee joints may lead to |
| participants had any history of musculoskeletal injury, | | | | osteoarthritis if continued over a long period of time, |
| and each was in the habit of running 15 miles per | | | | it is theorized. However, Bruce Williams, a spokesman |
| week. Each participant was required to run both | | | | for the American Podiatric Medical Association, doubts |
| barefoot and wearing typical running shoes. The | | | | this claim. "It's much ado about nothing," said Williams, |
| results showed that running with shoes may increase | | | | concluding "there was an increase in joint forces, but |
| the stress on knee joints by up to 38%. "There is an | | | | that's it." The study was not designed to show a link |
| increase in joint torque that may be detrimental," said | | | | between running shoes and osteoarthritis. |
| D. Casey Kerrigan, MD, the author of the study. | | | | |