Yang Luming, Liu Xinye, Liu Yuan, Liu Jing, Yan Shiyang, Fei Guoxia
National Engineering Laboratory for Clean Technology of Leather Manufacture, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Laboratory of Intelligent Clothing & Sport Biomechanics, College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Front Public Health. 2025 Aug 6;13:1641883. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1641883. eCollection 2025.
Suitable midsoles of running shoes provide better protection for the feet. However, previous studies on the effect of midsole hardness on running biomechanics have ignored the important factor of running velocity and have not reached consistent results. This study set a running velocity with six gradients and aimed to investigate whether the midsole hardness would have a different impact on lower limb joint angles and plantar loading in different velocity ranges.
Eight male runners ran on a treadmill under 12 conditions (six velocities: self-selected velocity (SSV), 120% SSV, 140% SSV, 160% SSV, 180% SSV, and 200% SSV; two midsole hardness levels: soft and hard). The Noraxon Ultium insole and Motion IMUs were used to collect data on joint angles and plantar loading. Two-way repeated measures (6 velocities × 2 hardnesses) and paired t-tests were used.
The study showed that at SSV and 120% SSV, the maximum ankle inversion angle in soft midsoles is significantly smaller than in hard midsoles. At 180 and 200% SSV, the maximum hip abduction angle in the swing phase and the maximum force in the metatarsal region in soft midsoles are significantly greater than in hard midsoles, which might lead to a loss of stability and an increased risk of injury in the forefoot. Midsole hardness could have a nonlinear effect on joints and plantar loading as running velocity changed.
The study provided useful information for reducing the potential incidence of running-related injuries based on midsole hardness and running velocity conditions. When considering the impact of midsole hardness on running injury, researchers should pay particular attention to ankle joint motion during 100-120% SSV and hip, ankle joint motion, and metatarsal and arch loading during 180-200% SSV.
合适的跑鞋中底能为足部提供更好的保护。然而，以往关于中底硬度对跑步生物力学影响的研究忽略了跑步速度这一重要因素，且未得出一致结果。本研究设置了六个梯度的跑步速度，旨在探究中底硬度在不同速度范围内是否会对下肢关节角度和足底负荷产生不同影响。
八名男性跑步者在跑步机上于12种条件下跑步（六种速度：自选速度（SSV）、120%SSV、140%SSV、160%SSV、180%SSV和200%SSV；两种中底硬度水平：软和硬）。使用Noraxon Ultium鞋垫和运动惯性测量单元收集关节角度和足底负荷数据。采用双向重复测量（6种速度×2种硬度）和配对t检验。
研究表明，在SSV和120%SSV时，软中底的最大踝关节内翻角度显著小于硬中底。在180%和200%SSV时，软中底在摆动期的最大髋关节外展角度和跖骨区域的最大力显著大于硬中底，这可能导致前足稳定性丧失和受伤风险增加。随着跑步速度变化，中底硬度可能对关节和足底负荷产生非线性影响。
该研究为基于中底硬度和跑步速度条件降低跑步相关损伤的潜在发生率提供了有用信息。在考虑中底硬度对跑步损伤的影响时，研究人员应特别关注100 - 120%SSV期间的踝关节运动以及180 - 200%SSV期间的髋关节、踝关节运动和跖骨与足弓负荷。
