👟 Running shoes, often blamed for injuries: myth or reality?

Many runners 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ point to their shoes as the cause of pain 🤕 or recurring injuries. Yet, the truth is more nuanced ⚖️: shoes can play a role, but rarely as the only determining factor.

🔎 Why shoes get the blame

• 👣 A shoe that deforms easily disrupts the foot’s sensory receptors, triggering reflex stiffening.

• 📏 A poor fit (shape, width, drop) can create local stress.

• ⏳ Material aging (foam, outsole) reduces cushioning and stability over time.

• 🏔️ Runners may accumulate fatigue, alter their stride, and face combined effects (surface, volume, technique).

📚 What science says

Studies show that individual variability is high 🔬. Trying to “fix” running form through shoes alone is often insufficient 🚫. Context (terrain 🌲, training volume 📊, physical condition 💪) weighs just as much, if not more. Researchers highlight that increasing speed ⚡ or training load 🏋️‍♂️ is more strongly linked to bone stress than simply changing shoes.

✅ How to reduce shoe-related risks

1. 👤 Choose models based on your biomechanical profile, not market trends.

2. 🔄 Replace shoes before wear compromises cushioning performance.

3. 🏞️ Test several pairs in your real running conditions.

4. 🏋️ Combine shoe choice with technical adjustments and stabilizer muscle strengthening.

5. 📆 Track adaptation over time (don’t stay locked into one setup).

🚀 StrideMatch: a data-driven approach to footwear and injury prevention

StrideMatch is more than a shoe comparison tool 📱. Here’s what our solution delivers:

• 📊 Individual, continuous gait analysis in your real conditions.

• 🦵 A biomechanical profile identifying local stress caused by your shoes.

• 🎯 Personalized recommendations: models, drop, stiffness, replacement cycle.

• 🛡️ An evolving monitoring system to detect overload signs before injuries occur.

When the app launches ⏱️, you’ll be able to get a complete analysis of your shoes and gait, and adjust your gear based on real data — not assumptions ❌.

Shoes don’t “cause” all injuries, but they modulate the stress your body absorbs ⚙️. The key lies in personalization 🔐 and continuous data 📈.

👉 Be ready: at StrideMatch launch, get your shoes and gait analyzed. Sign up 📝 to be among the first to access an intelligent, personalized solution.