Journal Article Summary - Midsole Stiffness and Lower Limb Joint Work During Running

This study was investigating if lower limb work is redistributed when running in a show with increased midsole bending stiffness compared to a control shoe. They found there as more positive work performed at the MTP joint and less positive work performed at the knee joint. This was because MTP plantar flexion occurred earlier and this changed how the lower limb joint work distributed. This increased midsole bending stiffness was the result of a carbon fibre plate and due to the results of the study they believed that it could indicate the carbon fibre plate had potential energy return properties.

Previous work with a similar shoe type has been shown to increase jump height and decrease the energy loss at the MTP joint when running. Adding in the midsole bending has improved sprinting for 85% of subjects in a previous study too.

Cigoja, S., Firminger, C., Asmussen, M., Fletcher, J., Edwards, W., & Nigg, B. (2019). Does increased midsole bending stiffness of sport shoes redistribute lower limb joint work during running?. Journal Of Science And Medicine In Sport, 22(11), 1272-1277. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2019.06.015