Zhou Xia, Li Pui-Ling, Yick Kit-Lun, Yu Annie
School of Fashion and Textiles, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
Materials (Basel). 2025 Jun 21;18(13):2941. doi: 10.3390/ma18132941.
Running socks play an important role in alleviating foot impact and preventing foot injuries. Despite the variety of commercial options, their cushioning effectiveness is not well understood. This study examines three different types of running socks made of bio-based and synthetic textiles. Material testing includes compression, tensile, and shock absorption, while wear tests assess plantar loading in 10 adult recreational runners on a treadmill. Results show that specialized running socks offer superior shock absorption compared to regular running socks, largely due to fabric thickness and weight. Socks made of high-performance bio-composite fibers significantly reduced maximum peak pressure and impulse in the great toe ( < 0.05) and first metatarsal head ( < 0.05) during running. Additionally, ground contact time in the forefoot ( < 0.05) area was significantly lower with specialized running socks. Compared to regular running socks, five-toed running socks can reduce the pressure load on the forefoot area. These findings can guide the design of specialized sockwear for better foot protection and improved sports performance.
跑步袜在减轻足部冲击和预防足部损伤方面起着重要作用。尽管有各种各样的商业选择，但它们的缓冲效果尚未得到充分了解。本研究考察了三种由生物基和合成纺织品制成的不同类型的跑步袜。材料测试包括压缩、拉伸和减震，而磨损测试则评估了10名成年休闲跑步者在跑步机上的足底负荷。结果表明，与普通跑步袜相比，专业跑步袜具有更好的减震效果，这主要归因于织物的厚度和重量。由高性能生物复合纤维制成的袜子在跑步过程中显著降低了大脚趾（<0.05）和第一跖骨头（<0.05）的最大峰值压力和冲量。此外，专业跑步袜在前脚掌区域的地面接触时间（<0.05）显著缩短。与普通跑步袜相比，五趾跑步袜可以减轻前脚掌区域的压力负荷。这些发现可为设计专门的袜子提供指导，以更好地保护足部并提高运动表现。
