Should Running Shoes Be Flat Or Cushioned?
Consistent with the ongoing research on impact mechanics in runners, cushioned running shoes have very little, if not, no clinical promise because they cause dramatic increases in net impact forces and other physical stressors, such as over-pronation, which means the foot shifts into extreme positions during stance, which transfers more bending and twisting strain up the Achilles, through the shins and the knee. The fit also counters the normal shape of the foot, while the thick underfoot compressible materials undermind adequate foot strike control, while leading to an overall loss of foot strength if dependence on these shoes continues as compared with flat, more ‘barefoot-like’ shoes.
