The impact of midsole hardness on joint angles and plantar loading during running at multiple running velocities
IntroductionSuitable 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...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1641883/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849397110456188928 |
|---|---|
| author | Luming Yang Luming Yang Xinye Liu Xinye Liu Yuan Liu Yuan Liu Jing Liu Shiyang Yan Guoxia Fei |
| author_facet | Luming Yang Luming Yang Xinye Liu Xinye Liu Yuan Liu Yuan Liu Jing Liu Shiyang Yan Guoxia Fei |
| author_sort | Luming Yang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionSuitable 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.MethodsEight 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.ResultsThe 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.ConclusionThe 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-45749439b4f840dc9f695699ede1fdcd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-45749439b4f840dc9f695699ede1fdcd2025-08-20T03:39:09ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-08-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.16418831641883The impact of midsole hardness on joint angles and plantar loading during running at multiple running velocitiesLuming Yang0Luming Yang1Xinye Liu2Xinye Liu3Yuan Liu4Yuan Liu5Jing Liu6Shiyang Yan7Guoxia Fei8National Engineering Laboratory for Clean Technology of Leather Manufacture, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaLaboratory of Intelligent Clothing & Sport Biomechanics, College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaNational Engineering Laboratory for Clean Technology of Leather Manufacture, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaLaboratory of Intelligent Clothing & Sport Biomechanics, College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaNational Engineering Laboratory for Clean Technology of Leather Manufacture, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaLaboratory of Intelligent Clothing & Sport Biomechanics, College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaSchool of Fashion and Textiles, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaLaboratory of Intelligent Clothing & Sport Biomechanics, College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Polymer Institute, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaIntroductionSuitable 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.MethodsEight 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.ResultsThe 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.ConclusionThe 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.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1641883/fullgait analysisspeedsshoesjoint angleplantar loading patternfootwear biomechanics |
| spellingShingle | Luming Yang Luming Yang Xinye Liu Xinye Liu Yuan Liu Yuan Liu Jing Liu Shiyang Yan Guoxia Fei The impact of midsole hardness on joint angles and plantar loading during running at multiple running velocities Frontiers in Public Health gait analysis speeds shoes joint angle plantar loading pattern footwear biomechanics |
| title | The impact of midsole hardness on joint angles and plantar loading during running at multiple running velocities |
| title_full | The impact of midsole hardness on joint angles and plantar loading during running at multiple running velocities |
| title_fullStr | The impact of midsole hardness on joint angles and plantar loading during running at multiple running velocities |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of midsole hardness on joint angles and plantar loading during running at multiple running velocities |
| title_short | The impact of midsole hardness on joint angles and plantar loading during running at multiple running velocities |
| title_sort | impact of midsole hardness on joint angles and plantar loading during running at multiple running velocities |
| topic | gait analysis speeds shoes joint angle plantar loading pattern footwear biomechanics |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1641883/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lumingyang theimpactofmidsolehardnessonjointanglesandplantarloadingduringrunningatmultiplerunningvelocities AT lumingyang theimpactofmidsolehardnessonjointanglesandplantarloadingduringrunningatmultiplerunningvelocities AT xinyeliu theimpactofmidsolehardnessonjointanglesandplantarloadingduringrunningatmultiplerunningvelocities AT xinyeliu theimpactofmidsolehardnessonjointanglesandplantarloadingduringrunningatmultiplerunningvelocities AT yuanliu theimpactofmidsolehardnessonjointanglesandplantarloadingduringrunningatmultiplerunningvelocities AT yuanliu theimpactofmidsolehardnessonjointanglesandplantarloadingduringrunningatmultiplerunningvelocities AT jingliu theimpactofmidsolehardnessonjointanglesandplantarloadingduringrunningatmultiplerunningvelocities AT shiyangyan theimpactofmidsolehardnessonjointanglesandplantarloadingduringrunningatmultiplerunningvelocities AT guoxiafei theimpactofmidsolehardnessonjointanglesandplantarloadingduringrunningatmultiplerunningvelocities AT lumingyang impactofmidsolehardnessonjointanglesandplantarloadingduringrunningatmultiplerunningvelocities AT lumingyang impactofmidsolehardnessonjointanglesandplantarloadingduringrunningatmultiplerunningvelocities AT xinyeliu impactofmidsolehardnessonjointanglesandplantarloadingduringrunningatmultiplerunningvelocities AT xinyeliu impactofmidsolehardnessonjointanglesandplantarloadingduringrunningatmultiplerunningvelocities AT yuanliu impactofmidsolehardnessonjointanglesandplantarloadingduringrunningatmultiplerunningvelocities AT yuanliu impactofmidsolehardnessonjointanglesandplantarloadingduringrunningatmultiplerunningvelocities AT jingliu impactofmidsolehardnessonjointanglesandplantarloadingduringrunningatmultiplerunningvelocities AT shiyangyan impactofmidsolehardnessonjointanglesandplantarloadingduringrunningatmultiplerunningvelocities AT guoxiafei impactofmidsolehardnessonjointanglesandplantarloadingduringrunningatmultiplerunningvelocities |