WHAT ARE VALUES OF SHOELACES IN RUNNING?

Abstract

Shoelaces are widely thought to make running shoes more comfortable and well-fitted. Studies on the effects of lacing patterns of running shoes on plantar pressure distribution, shock attenuation, and rearfoot motion found that shoe lacing patterns had a remarkable influence on foot-shoe coupling in running (Hagen & Henning, 2008). Their results showed that tighter shoelaces or lacing these closer to the ankle joint resulted in better use of running shoe features. Recently, a type of no-lace running shoes, in which an elastic material is used to replace the traditional lace structure, has been designed by a shoe company. However, there is no available information on the effects of shoes with or without lace structures on foot biomechanics during running. As such, the purpose of this study was to examine if there were differences between running shoes with and without the lace system on perceived comfort, plantar pressure distribution, and rearfoot motion control in running.