The influence of midsole shear on running smoothness

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Increased shear force between the foot and ground has been shown to contribute to sports-related injury (Lorimer & Hume, 2014). Therefore, running-related research has modified footwear midsole cushioning to allow for greater anterior foot shift and reduce shear force during early stance. Early footwear innovation and modifications have resulted in lower peak braking forces and reduced muscle activity around the ankle joint during running (Wunsch et al., 2017). With these biomechanical changes, a smoother running pattern may also occur by avoiding uncontrolled body motion and adapting muscle tension during stance. Running smoothness can be quantified by evaluating the jerk (or time derivative of acceleration) of the running pattern and has been related to injury and performance (Hreljac, 2000). However, the effects of manipulating the midsole shear in footwear on running smoothness has yet to be evaluated.