Logical fallacies in the running shoe debate: let the evidence guide prescription

Napier, Christopher; Willy, Richard W.

doi:10.1136/bjsports-2018-100117

Cited by 22 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…13 36 However, so far it has never been shown that RRIs can be prevented by wearing a certain type of shoes or by matching the shoe to the foot morphology. [37][38][39] Therefore, runners are made aware of this and are advised to wear shoes that feel comfortable. This information is provided by an interview with an expert sports physician.…”

Section: Methods Study Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced injury prevention programme for recreational runners (the SPRINT study): design of a randomised controlled trial

Fokkema

Vos

Visser³

et al. 2020

BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med

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IntroductionRunning-related injuries (RRIs) are frequent, but no effective injury prevention measures have been identified yet. Therefore, we have set up the INSPIRE trial in 2017, in which the effectiveness of an online injury prevention programme was tested. Although this programme was not effective in reducing the number of RRIs, we gained new insights from this study, which we used to design an enhanced, online multidisciplinary injury prevention programme. The aim of this study is to test the effectiveness of this enhanced injury prevention programme in a group of recreational runners.Methods and analysisFor this randomised controlled trial, we aim to include 3394 recreational runners aged 18 years or older who register for a running event (distances 10 to 42.2 km). During the preparation for the running event, runners in the intervention group get access to the enhanced online injury prevention programme. This online programme consists of 10 steps, all covering separate items of RRI prevention. Runners in the control group will follow their regular preparation. With three follow-up questionnaires (1 month before, 1 week before and 1 month after the running event), the proportions of self-reported RRIs in the intervention group and the control group are compared.Ethics and disseminationAn exemption for a comprehensive application has been obtained by the Medical Ethical Committee of the Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The results of the study will be disseminated among the running population, published in peer-reviewed international journals and presented on international conferences.Trial registration numberNL7694

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Section: Methods Study Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced injury prevention programme for recreational runners (the SPRINT study): design of a randomised controlled trial

Fokkema

Vos

Visser³

et al. 2020

BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med

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“…Also, any radical change in running shoe features will inevitably increase the injury risk. 8 Further work is needed to provide evidence-based recommendations for transitioning to a new pair of shoes, taking into account the specific shoe features that differ from the previously used model (eg, cushioning, drop, motion control), as well as the amount of change (eg, from maximalist to barefoot or from standard cushioned shoes to partial-minimalist shoes). The current lack of knowledge about shoe transitioning can be circumvented to some degree by using several pairs of running shoes in parallel, depending on the surface (ie, road, forest, or mountain) or the purpose (ie, training or competition).…”

Section: Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The question of whether the prescription of ''appropriate'' footwear can prevent injury in leisure-time runners has always generated hot debates and has already been addressed by previous authors, 6,7 who called for caution against overstating the benefits or harms of any shoe feature to runners. 8 Indeed, experts have not reached consensus; different streams of thought regarding the effect of footwear on injury occurrence can be easily identified in the scientific literature.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, ''absence of evidence is not O n l i n e F i r s t evidence of absence,'' and an argument stemming from ignorance is a fallacy in informal logic that could lead one to incorrectly conclude that minimalist shoes or the comfort paradigm is superior to a traditional shoe prescription for injury prevention. 8 In this narrative literature review, we propose that any statement pertaining to the role that running footwear might play on injury risk should be evidence based. Hence, we aim to clarify what scientific evidence is available for clinicians and coaches to provide runners with advice on the choice of appropriate running shoes, with a view to reducing injury risk.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Can the “Appropriate” Footwear Prevent Injury in Leisure-Time Running? Evidence Versus Beliefs

Malisoux

Theisen²

2020

Journal of Athletic Training

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Leisure-time running is one of the most popular forms of physical activity around the world. It can be practiced almost everywhere and requires mainly a pair of “appropriate” running shoes. However, the term appropriate is ambiguous, and the properties of running footwear have always generated hot debates among clinicians, coaches, and athletes, whatever the level of practice. As the main interface between the runner's foot and the ground, the shoe potentially plays an important role in managing repetitive external mechanical loads applied to the musculoskeletal system and, thus, in injury prevention. Consequently, over the last decades, running shoes have been prescribed based on matching shoe features to foot morphology. This strategy aligns with the popular belief that footwear is one of the main extrinsic factors influencing running-related injury risk. Despite a seemingly sound strategy for shoe prescription and constant progress in running-footwear technology, the injury rate remains high. Therefore, our aim in this narrative literature review is to clarify whether the prescription of appropriate footwear to prevent injury in running is evidence based, the result of logical fallacy, or just a myth. The literature presented in this review is based on a nonsystematic search of the MEDLINE database and focuses on work investigating the effect of shoe features on injury risk in runners. In addition, key elements for a proper understanding of the literature on running footwear and injury risk are addressed. In this literature review, we outline (1) the main risk factors and the mechanisms underlying the occurrence of running-related injury, (2) important methodologic considerations for generating high-level evidence, (3) the evidence regarding the influence of running-shoe features on injury risk, (4) future directions for research, and (5) final general recommendations.

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“…Furthermore, one of the following criteria had to be met: i) the injury was severe enough to cause a reduction in running distance, speed, duration or frequency for at least 1 week; ii) the injury led to a visit to a doctor and/or physiotherapist; or iii) medication was necessary to reduce symptoms as a result of the injury. More details on the INSPIRE-trial are published elsewhere 15 . The INSPIRE trial was funded by the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMW, 536001001) and was performed in collaboration with Golazo Sports, a company that organizes large running events in the Netherlands This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam (MEC-2016-292).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Opinions, Barriers, and Facilitators of Injury Prevention in Recreational Runners

Fokkema¹,

Vos²,

Bierma-Zeinstra³

et al. 2019

Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy

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Background Effective injury prevention measures for running-related injuries (RRIs) have not yet been identified. More insight into the opinions of runners about injury prevention might help to develop effective injury prevention programs that are supported by the target population. Objectives To describe the opinions of recreational runners on different components of injury prevention and to identify the barriers to and facilitators of injury prevention in adult recreational runners. Methods A single questionnaire was sent to 2378 recreational runners. The questionnaire contained questions about their interests, actions undertaken, and perceived barriers to and facilitators of injury prevention. Descriptive analyses were used to examine differences with regard to sex, age, and previous RRIs. Results 1034 adult recreational runners (43.5%) responded to the questionnaire. Runners with previous RRIs were more likely to rate injury prevention as very useful than runners who had never sustained an RRI (76.8% vs. 63.6%, p<0.001). In total, 81.8% of the participants 4 indicated that they already performed preventive measures, including changes to training schedules (65.4%) and warming-up (57.8%). Most frequently reported barriers to injury prevention were 'not knowing what to do' (45.2%) and 'no history of RRI' (34.6%). The most important facilitator was an injury (60.1%). Women more often preferred information via a trainer or running store than did men, while men more frequently preferred websites or email. Conclusion The majority of runners rated injury prevention as important. To increase effectiveness, future prevention programs should be developed with an awareness of the barriers and facilitators experienced by adult runners.

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Logical fallacies in the running shoe debate: let the evidence guide prescription

Cited by 22 publications

References 21 publications

Enhanced injury prevention programme for recreational runners (the SPRINT study): design of a randomised controlled trial

Enhanced injury prevention programme for recreational runners (the SPRINT study): design of a randomised controlled trial

Can the “Appropriate” Footwear Prevent Injury in Leisure-Time Running? Evidence Versus Beliefs

Opinions, Barriers, and Facilitators of Injury Prevention in Recreational Runners

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