Too much cushion?

Feb 06, 2014

I have been reading a number of magazines, articles, discussing the fall of minimalism sales over the last year. These articles inference that the trend back to a traditional shoe is happening and minimalism is a dying trend.

I would tend to disagree with this statement. Yes minimalist (ie vibram five fingers and others) sales did take up less of the market share in the running market, but shoe companies have been more focused on cutting weight of their traditional shoes, and lowering the heel to toe ratio. This trend is more minimal in a sense. The craze is over but I feel it brought a few great things going forward for the running shoe industry

The most recent studies on injury prevention and footwear choice are still muddy. At the end of the day what you are training in does not seem to correlate well with the incidence of injury and footwear choice. As well research is very inconclusive between injury rates with picking the right category of shoe (ie neutral, stability, motion control), and a person having a more cushioned shoe. Cushioning I find is a funny topic. I do think having a shoe with some protection and shock absorption is great. Where I find the downside in the logic is this. I cannot find a study or information regarding how much cushioning a person needs. There is little way to quantify this number. I read shoe reviews talking about how a company added 25% more cushioning to their already cushioned shoe. What does this even mean? It sounds great as a selling point, but what does it mean to me, I’m not sure. There is much stronger correlation between injury rates and overtraining, or increasing too fast too soon.

I myself lie more on the side of minimalism, but do not wear a true barefoot shoe aside from some short form workouts. When I make my footwear selection there are a few things that I look for:

1. Heel toe drop: That is the difference in height between the forefoot and the heel. Traditional running shoes are usually between 10-14mm. For me I like something between 4-6mm. This still gives me a little height to prevent my calf from overstraining when I start to fatigue. Anything that is higher than 8mm I tend to start over-striding and heel striking.

2. Weight: I always keep my footwear choice under 10oz. Anything heavier feels clunky and heavy.

3. Noise: Hopefully the store you choose has a treadmill to try running for a couple of minutes. If my feet are slapping down or I am causing the store to shake with each step, the shoe will not work for me. Above when I was talking about level of cushioning this comes into play. Generally speaking the more cushion you put into your shoe the more rigid it becomes. A shoe’s firmness can equate to altering your stride or foot strike, causing higher impact forces because it changes how you naturally absorb the impact.

4. Run without your shoes: before you pick out your next pair of shoes try a few strides without your shoes on. I would try to replicate that feel and motion with a shoe on. On a side note, if you walk into a running store and they analyze your foot strike by walking, please take it with a grain of salt. Remember this is great if you are purchasing your shoes to walk in, but running is a far different movement and should be analysed accordingly.

5. Feel: This is the most important choice for me. If I do not feel natural in the shoe, or I feel like the shoe is trying to control my foot, no matter how good the shoe review was it was not meant for me.



Please add your bio info through your member profile page, or through your dashboard.


Posted By


Tag Cloud

GLA:D® St. AlbertACL injuriesicerunning shoesheadacherunning footwearstrengtheninggait analysisphysiotherapy albertarib painexplore albertaGLA:D™ back programservus placeupper back painSAPECscapula#activephysioworkshiking in the mountainswrist painswimmingstrengthironman canadatennis elbowfundraiserIntramuscular Stimulationricework from homeultrast albert 10 milercupping therapy in st albertreaders choice awardshockey injuryrunningst albert triathloncustom fit compression stockingsyegphysioOsteoarthritislow back painfitness programheel paindeath race training planhip impingmentctv edmontonmarathonPHYSIOTHÉRAPIE EN FRANCAISUrinary Incontinenceworld grand final edmonton5km obstacle courseHawrelak Parkfast trax ultramale pelvic healthwarm heartrotator cuff tearPFPSrunning injuriesconcussion mythsconcussion recoveryworld championshipsDRAcovid 19air relaxprehab before rehabsports injurythoracic spineroad runningrunning during pregnancyIMSpole walkingtreatment for headachesrotator cuffMS Bike Leduc to Camroseedmonton oilersRunprolapseSt. Albert Triathlonpelvic floorheatBest Physiotherapistshoulder painAlberta Health Services funded PhysiotherapyBikeshin splintsachillies tendinopathytriathlonPRPgolf injuriestreatment planst albertlost souls ultraSt. Albertpre-natal fitnesswhat is physiotherapyworking from homelegacy park family festivalbest of T8NWPTDglute strengthprice5kpregnancy back paintrail runningwhat to expectneck painBPPVtraps#msbikepartner massageultra runningpiraformis syndromeracingwhatever it takesdry needlingcomplete concussion management inc.runners kneeknee replacementgood fridaydraw prizesclinic screeningsports concussionclinic updateyogasmall business nomineest albert road racetreating sports injuriesroastplantar fasciitisultramarathonimPACT testingkids of steel triathlonglute strengtheningDiastasis Rectus Abdominis (DRA)ultrarunnermechanical stressreturn to runningtrade showconcussion in sportRacecouch to 5kctv morning livecommunity involvementcanada day paradeyegfitnesscupping in st albertPosturerecoverywinter runningvirtual rehabregistered massage therapistmagrathiturunning after baby10kmrmteaster mondayconcussion managementpelvic health physiotherapyphysical therapyturkey on the trailstext neckout run rareWinter Injury Preventionsleeplateral epicondylitisfort saskatchewan chamber of commercefamilyvirtual carebreathworkcompressionSI jointpelvic organ prolapseinjection therapyiron legsinjury preventionshockwaveshockwave therapypost covid programathlete injuryknee injuryfundraisingaquathoncortisonecovid19why active physio worksyardworkglobal edmontonDiastasis RectiTMJtournamentvictoria daydizzinessyou can ride 2lifestyle expocold weather runningst. albert road racemodalitiesms bike tour 2019cornmuscle tightnesscupping therapybackpack safetyfoam rollerconcussions in sportcuppingmotor vehicle accidentbellerose bike a thonGLA:D® EdmontonGunn theory of IMSTeam RehabGLA:D™concussionpreventing sports injuriesstem cellactive physio works teampelvic healthmyofascial cupping therapycommunity runcharityworld physical therapy dayGLA:D®knee painadaptive cyclingswimmerarthritis5kmpelvic girdle painpost covid 19 programtapercarpal tunnelstaying fit while pregnantConnor McDavidwarm handsedmonton physiotherapisteasterpainsouth edmontoncommunityneedlingpiraformiscovid 19 rehab and recoveryobstacle courseroad race10 milerguided massagecanadian trailstrail runyegbikedown and dirty obstacle courserehabilitationrunning formreturn to sporthockeyhikingmedical mission to Ecuadoractive physio works 5kmacupunctureITU World Grand Final Triathlon Edmontonavoiding injuryshockwave physioresttrainingneedling techniquesdave proctor100 milerunning with baby#teamrehabultrarunningelbow painrental car motor vehicle accidentfoot pain#fundraisingflexibilityarthritis of the spineWTS Edmontonst. albert chamber of commercevestibular rehabilitationthoracic spine mobilityfootballintraoral massageSI joint painmud runremembrance dayrunning gaitextended health careslip and fallsHealth Information Actfort saskatchewan trade showSwimtrapezius strengtheningedmontonsafe exercises during pregnancybarefoot runninglong covidgolfer's elbowsoccer injuriespatellar tendonitisankle spraininjuryfestivalACLcyclingplantar faciitisMS Bikeback painfasciacancer carevolunteerMS Bike Tour 2020pelvic health physiotherapistfort saskatchewandeath raceactive physio workship painmassagegolfphysio for golfgreat white north triathloncovid protocolspregnant runnerconcussion testingcovid 19 rehabcommunity eventms bike touryou can ride two10milerITU World Triathlon Grand Final Edmontonphysiotherapyankle sprains in athletesmassage therapySCAT 3spin classPhysiotherapy funding in Albertadirect billingurgent care physiotherapyachillespine to palmgrand openingregistered massage therapyclinic closurecervogenic headachesGLA:D™ knee programhip replacementfrozen shoulderbasketball injuriesjaw paincovid 19 updateoperation esperanzastroller runningmarathon trainingwarm hands, warm hearts runheadachesschoolparadeIT band syndromeshoulder massagecore strengtheningstrength trainingkidsrunning technique1km kids fun runcycling injury preventionifcholiday hourstraining plansecondary submittingankle injuriesdraw prizephysiotherapiebowen techniqueprotectconussion in sportclavicle fracturevolleyballcanada dayfirst appointmentbowen therapy#labourforlovecovid 19 rehab and rebaseline testingms bike tour leduc to camrosephysiotherapy for cancer patientsvertigoexercise programtelerehabshoulderstretching


Archive

What to Expect

We understand that you may have a few questions before visiting our clinics for your initial appointment.

Book an Appointment

Book in for an appointment with one of our qualified Active Physio Works Physiotherapists &
Registered Massage Therapists.

Treatments

We understand each person is different so we offer a variety of techniques that are best suited to your individual needs.