No changes in knee and hip running biomechanics after a 6-week transition to maximal shoes

Abstract

Maximal shoes have recently become popular across runners of all abilities. Previous research suggests that certain maximal shoes may increase injury risk compared to traditional footwear due to elevated loading rates (Hannigan & Pollard, 2019) and altered eversion mechanics (Hannigan & Pollard, 2019; Hannigan & Pollard, 2020). Anecdotally, some runners report decreased knee pain in maximal shoes. However, research to date has not found any differences at the knee and hip in maximal shoes compared to traditional shoes (Becker & Borgia, 2020; Sinclair et al., 2016). Distal running biomechanics do not appear to change after a 6-week acclimation to maximal shoes (Hannigan & Pollard, 2019), but it’s currently unknown whether proximal biomechanics at the knee and hip may adapt over time, which could explain why some runners find knee pain relief in maximal shoes.