Foot strike pattern has been a key subject of recent research and controversial findings about the impact loading characteristics and related advantages with different foot strike patterns are reported. The current literature reported a general percentage split of 75%, 20% and 5%, respectively for rearfoot, midfoot and forefoot contact patterns at preferred or controlled submaximal running speed. With increasing running speed, a more anterior initial foot contact position or a shift from rearfoot to midfoot or even forefoot strike pattern is generally found although being influenced by the differences in subject characteristics and footwear conditions. Recent study has identified also an atypical rearfoot strike pattern (fig. 1) which was found to associate with a higher maximum vertical loading rate than runners with typical rearfoot and midfoot strike patterns. Despite distinct biomechanical differences and cushioning needs for different heel and midfoot strike patterns, cushioning running shoes in the market are primarily built based on the landing, rearfoot motion and foot unroll characteristics of rearfoot strikers. In this study, a running shoe construction featuring a crash pad design built based on the plantar pressure distribution patterns of habitual rearfoot and midfoot strikers was introduced with an aim to address the cushioning and stability needs of runners using different foot contact patterns and to facilitate changes in running style or strike transition. The potential clinical benefits of this new cushioning running shoe concept for a group of habitual rearfoot strikers having consistent running related lower extremity pain was evaluated.
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