Biomedical Research

Objective: To search the original research and investigate the evidence relating to the effectiveness of the type of athletic footwear affects the regulation of lower extremity stiffness.

Method: Meta-analysis.

Results: There are 12 trails leg stiffness (Risk ratio RR-0.47, 95% confidence interval CI: -0.70 to -0.25, the overall effect size Z=4.13, p<0.001), 10 trails knee stiffness (RR -0.59, 95% CI: -0.82 to -0.35, Z=4.97, p<0.001) and 3 trails vertical stiffness (RR -0.51, 95% CI:-0.93 to -0.10, Z=2.41, p=0.02), meta-analysis found that athletic footwear were effective. But 10 trails ankle stiffness (RR 0.82, 95% CI: 0.63 to 1.00, Z=8.74, p<0.001), and 4 trails hip stiffness (RR 0.46, 95% CI: 0.10 to 0.81, Z=2.54, p=0.01) were opposite.

Conclusion: This review adds to the body of knowledge by strongly highlighting the dearth of literature exploring the effects of athletic footwear on lower extremity stiffness during dynamic activities. When shod leg, vertical and knee stiffness are decrease, but ankle and hip stiffness were increase compare to barefoot.

Author(s): Jing LI, Hai-Bin YU, Yung-Shen TSAI
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