American scientists from the University of Massachusetts Amherst found that advanced running shoes with spiked soles increase athletes’ running speed over medium distances. The study was published on: Portal non-peer-reviewed scientific materials bioRxiv.
About five years ago, a new type of spiked athletic shoe, also called a “super spike,” was introduced to professional sports. Super spikes feature a thicker, more flexible, and more resilient midsole with a rigid carbon fiber plate.
In a series of experiments, the researchers compared various super spike designs with traditional spiked running shoes that featured a lightweight design with minimal cushioning and no additional stiffening elements.
They found that different superspike designs increased running speed by an average of 2 percent (ranging from 1.8 percent to 3.1 percent). The effect was noticeable in middle-distance races of 800 and 1500 meters.
The results showed that the super-studded shoes allowed runners to take longer strides, taking 17 to 21 fewer steps than competitors wearing regular-studded shoes.
Scientists noted that a 2% increase in speed could be decisive in the fight for leadership in high-level sports competitions.
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