An assessment of subject variability, subject-shoe interaction, and the evaluation of running shoes using ground reaction force data.

Several aspects of dynamic foot function were investigated using ground reaction forces obtained from five runners performing in five different shoes. A minimum of eight trials were necessary in order to obtain stable subject-condition values. Statistically significant subject-shoe interactions occurred for all parameters. It was therefore concluded that a knowledge of shoe characteristics independent of subject characteristics provided little useful information regarding the effects of the shoes tested on selected foot mechanics of the runners. The various subject-conditions were evaluated in an attempt to determine which was the best shoe. Selected descriptive data are presented and the 'best' shoe concept discussed.