Taking Strides Towards the Development of Running Shoes for Women

Sex-differentiation in endurance running is already well-documented, such as running biomechanics, energy consumption, and common injuries among male and female runners. It is also well-known that the properties of running shoes – such as weight, sole hardness, and flexibility – have a significant impact on running biomechanics. However, no study to date has compared the effects of different running shoes on the biomechanical movement patterns of women and men.

This issue has been addressed by doctoral student Tizian Scharl, Dr.-Ing. Michael Frisch, and Prof. Dr. Franz Konstantin Fuss from the Department of Biomechanics at the University of Bayreuth. For their study, they recorded the running patterns of 19 female and 18 male participants aged 20 to 45, all of whom run at least 12 kilometres weekly. The recordings were made using 3D motion capture cameras and force plates. The participants ran both barefoot and in seven different types of running shoes, including barefoot shoes with very thin soles, performance running shoes with integrated carbon plates, and the participants' own personal running shoes. In addition to biomechanical data, the participants were asked to evaluate the shoes based on comfort, performance, and perceived strain.

"In our study, we demonstrated that there are numerous differences in running biomechanics between female and male recreational runners. Some of these differences remain consistent across all shoe conditions, while others depend on individual running speed and shoe characteristics. Furthermore, both sexes respond differently to variations in shoe properties," says Scharl, the study's lead author. For example, sex-differentiation in pelvic alignment remained constant across all types of running shoes, whereas the speed of foot and ankle alignment was influenced by the shoes' properties. The sex-specific differences were least pronounced in the tested standard running shoe. Additionally, the researchers found evidence that female participants ran most efficiently in their own personal running shoes – without placing excessive strain on their joints. Participants' evaluations of the shoes also revealed a narrower range of acceptable shoe properties for women than for men.

"The findings of our study will help us better understand sex-based differences and apply them to sex-differentiated shoe design. Together with our research partners Fraunhofer IPA and PUMA, we will continue to focus on the collection, analysis, and application of motion data in running and football, paying particular attention to sex-specific aspects," Scharl explains.

The research project was funded by PUMA.