Advanced footwear technology and its impacts on running mechanics, running economy and perception of male and female recreational runners

Studies on advanced footwear technology (AFT) often investigate potential performance benefits for constraint populations, and high running speeds. This research compared running biomechanics, running economy and perception between males and females, when wearing three different AFT conditions at recreational running speeds. An innovation shoe sample (IM) at confirmation stage in the product creation process was compared to two commercial running shoes (MM, MF). Gender and shoe variable means were compared for main and interaction effects (p < 0.05) by a mixed 2 × 3 repeated measures analysis of variance (RM ANOVA), and effect size estimation. A main effect was seen for shoe condition, both the IM and MF showed higher vertical loading rates than MM, and higher peak vertical force 1. IM had less frontal plane rearfoot motion than both the MM and MF. At the MTPJ, IM had lower maximum dorsiflexion angle, dorsiflexion velocity leading to lower negative power and negative work than both the MM and MF. IM and MF showed significantly lower oxygen consumption than the MM. Perception measurements showed IM and MF to be significantly softer, responsive and had better propulsion than the MM. A main effect was seen for gender, females exhibited higher vertical loading rates, reduced frontal plane ankle motion and lower MTPJ motion, and lower oxygen consumption compared to males. There was no gender effect for perception. Despite biomechanical differences, both IM and MF showed improved performance compared to the MM. Males and females exhibit different biomechanics when wearing AFT, however this did not lead to differences in subjective perception. It is concluded that the specific AFT applied for IM samples in this research functions for both groups largely similarly.