Current trends in the development of sports shoes

The concepts used in sport shoe design are currently in a phase of fundamental change. The objective of this paper is to give an overview of current research and literature concerning sports science, biomechanics and sports medicine and to thereby demonstrate the present change of paradigms, including examples of current sport shoe models. Cushioning is not of primary importance in reducing maximum load of heel impact. Too much cushioning causes negative effects, as does a too-hard sole. Currently, the goal is to compensate the difference between natural ground and the artificial ground of sports arenas. It was possible to identify correlations between high pronation velocity and sports-associated problems like shin splints, patellofemoral pain syndrome or iliotibial tract syndrome, using the calculation model of inverse dynamics. High lever arms at the heel part were identified as a major causative factor. The current trends in sports shoe industries are reduction of the influence of the shoe on the natural movement pattern together with a stronger consideration of individual factors of the sportsman. There is a now special shoe available for nearly every sports discipline. Compared to several years ago, cushioning and medial support are considered less important than a reduction of lever arms. Another focus is on fit, which has led to concepts with different shoe widths and industrialised custom-made sports shoes.