Abstract
Background
Compared with traditional running shoes, Advanced Footwear Technology (AFT) improves the oxygen cost of running (O2 cost) for athletes competing at fast speeds. Less clear are the effects of these modern shoes at the slower speeds commonly adopted by recreational runners. Therefore, this study’s primary aim was to assess the effects of AFT shoes on O2 cost at slow running speeds.
Methods
Fourteen moderately-trained runners (6 men, 8 women, age 25.5 ± 2.8 years, body mass index 21.7 ± 2.3 kg m−2, V̇O2peak 49.8 ± 5.1 ml O2 kg−1 min−1) ran at four speeds (7.5, 9.0, 10.5 and 12.0 km h−1) with three different footwear conditions: traditional running shoes (On Cloudrunner 2, TRA); AFT shoes (On Cloudboom Echo 3, CBE); and prototype shoes combining AFT and standard features (high compliance, energy return, and mass; On Prototype, MIX). The full protocol was repeated on three different days by each participant.
Results
Combining all tested speeds, O2 cost was lower for CBE compared with both TRA (−5.4 ml O2 kg−1 km−1, 95% CI: −6.9 to −3.9 ml O2 kg−1 km −1, p
Description
This study assesses the effects of AFT shoes on oxygen cost at slow running speeds.