Volunteers Needed for Study on Athletic Shoes

Researchers in the Department of Kinesiology at UMass Amherst are looking for participants for a study they are conducting in partnership with the OOFOS shoe company.

The aim of the study is to understand how wearing shoes with a compliant energy absorbing midsole material outside of athletic training sessions influences the mechanics of movement, performance and perceived joint pain and stiffness. Advances in material science have led to a wider range of cushioning system material properties and mid and outsole geometries in footwear. While there are many marketing claims about the potential benefits of this new class of products these have not yet been investigated in well-designed scientific studies. 

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Volunteers for this study should be between the ages of 22 and 45 years old, training for a road or trail race and running at least 35 miles/week. They must have not missed more than one run in a row due to pain or injury in the past six weeks.

Qualified participants will be asked to make two visits approximately six weeks apart to the UMass biomechanics lab in the Totman Building at the UMass Amherst campus. Eligible participants will fill out a set of validated questionnaires for lower extremity function and pain. At each visit biomechanical, performance and neuromuscular function testing will be completed. This will include gait analysis and muscle strength tests. Following each lab visit participants will be provided with a physical activity and heart rate monitor. They will be asked to wear the activity monitor continuously for five days and to capture physical activity and a heart rate monitor strap for two nights and one day to monitor heart rate variability. 

Participants will be randomly assigned to either the control group or the intervention group at the end of the first visit.  Participants in both groups will be asked to complete a bi-weekly injury history report indicating number of missed training session due to injury, location of pain/injury and if treatment was sought. Participants training for a marathon will be asked to keep a training log of training distance and time for each day.

Every participant regardless of intervention or control group will be offered OOFOS shoes after their participation. Participants will also be given cash totaling $125 for their efforts. Those interested should email mobl@umass.edu.