Injury prevention
80% of injuries are caused by mechanical overload from “too much, too soon”. The best way to prevent injuries is load management and education. Footwear and biomechanics are only a small part of the puzzle. Sorry, this video is only available in French. Content in English will be added soon.
Debate on injury prevention
Running Shoes: definition and state of knowledge
Pronation control technologies are largely ineffective. With minimalist shoes, less stress is placed on the knees, hips and lower back, but more stress is applied on the calf, Achilles tendon and foot. It is the opposite with maximalist shoes. No technology promoted by shoe companies reduces injuries. Shoe companies are driven by marketing and non-clinical research. This video discusses concepts such as how minimalist and maximalist shoes influence kinematics and running kinetics. Sorry, this video is only available in French. Content in English will be added soon.
Discussion on Running Shoes
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Running shoes: What is the basis of our recommendations?
In summary, we recommend considering shoes that are more minimalist for beginners and children. We recommend that if you’re comfortable with your current pair of running shoes, you’re not injured, and you’re not interested in maximizing performance, don’t change your shoes! But if you want to improve running economy or help with recurrent knee injuries, going higher on the Minimalist Index could be a good idea. Sorry, this video is only available in French. Content in English will be added soon.
Debate: Can running shoes help in preventing injury ?
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Running shoes and performance: What is the basis of our recommendations ?
Minimalist shoes are lighter, and training with lighter shoes helps increase running economy. They also help maintain a higher step rate and minimize overstriding (landing too far ahead of the hips). Sorry, this video is only available in French. English content will be added soon.
Debate: Which shoes to wear for a marathon ?
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Running Biomechanics: What is the basis of our recommendations ?
Uninjured runners should only consider changing the way they run if they want to improve performance. For injured runners, different interventions can help decrease impact on the joints and reduce symptoms. Interventions include (1) Increasing step rate, ideally between 170-190 steps per minute; (2) Running “softer” (making less noise when landing); (3) Adapting to more minimalist shoes, which have been associated with higher step rate, lower impact on the ground and at the knees as well as making the foot muscles stronger! Sorry, this video is only available in French. English content will be added soon.
Debate: Running biomechanics
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Conclusion and end of the debate
Manufacturers typically use marketing arguments without any scientific evidence to promote their products, indirectly making people believe that their shoes can help prevent injuries. In reality, most of their research is based on materials, not on injury prevention. Customers and healthcare professionals need to be aware of this to make up their own unbiased decisions. Sorry, this video is only available in French. English content will be added soon.
Conclusion and end of the debate
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