Podiatry New Zealand Steps into Sports Shoe Debate

Podiatry New Zealand Steps into Sports Shoe Debate

MELBOURNE, Mar. 31 /Medianet International-AsiaNet/ --

Podiatry New Zealand, the peak body for podiatrists in New Zealand today warned that consumers would be foolish to believe a recent University of Newcastle study suggesting sports shoes provided no protection against injury.

President of Podiatry New Zealand, Mr Bruce Baxter said the recent report (published on 11 March 2009) unfairly discounted the important role sports shoes played in supporting feet.

“It’s important we keep in mind that no one has questioned the legitimacy of the University of Newcastle’s report or the validity of the research on which it is based,” said Mr Baxter.

Mr Baxter asked readers of the report to note the second hand nature of the research.

“I have information that would suggest the foundation on which this study was based came from, not a ‘pool of sports science research’ as suggested, but just ‘one’, singular British study in which the University was involved,” said Mr Baxter.

Mr Baxter said that although there may be no strict evidence (of a sports medicine nature) showing sports shoes prevent injury; there was nothing, no hard evidence, to suggest they didn’t play a part in protecting feet.

“I think it’s unwise to suggest that sports shoes play absolutely no part in protecting the foot from injury,” Mr Baxter commented.

“I know if I was running a half marathon, I’d prefer to be wearing a pair of well designed sports shoes than to run in bare feet,” said Mr Baxter.

Mr Jason Mansfield, General Manager of Britain Wynyard who is the designer and distributor of the ASICS brand, said there was evidence that refuted the claims made by the University’s study.

“Britain Wynyard use Biomechanists to ensure our sports shoes pay the highest level of attention to not only comfort, but safety, so I believe the report is a little misinformed,” said Mr Mansfield.

Biomechanics is the application of mechanics and physics to a biological system, such as the human body. Typically, biomechanical engineers have a technical background in engineering (both mechanical & biomedical) with additional experience and education in biological science.
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