Fuller J, et al. Longer-term effects of minimalist shoes on running performance, strength and bone density: a 20-week follow-up study. European Journal of Sport Science. 2019 Mar 16;19(3):402-12.

The study investigated the longer-term effects of transitioning to minimalist shoes on running performance, running economy, strength, and bone density over a 20-week follow-up period. Fifty male runners who previously transitioned to using minimalist or...

Firminger C, et al. Effects of footwear and stride length on metatarsal strains and failure in running. Clinical Biomechanics. 2017 Nov 1;49:8-15.

The study investigates the effects of footwear type (traditional vs. minimalist shoes) and stride length (preferred vs. 90% preferred) on metatarsal strains and the probability of stress fractures in recreational runners. Fourteen male participants ran under...

Plesek J, et al. Acute effects of footwear on running impact loading in the preschool years. Sports Biomechanics 22.3 (2023): 442-458.

The study explores how different footwear conditions (barefoot, minimalist shoes, and standard running shoes) affect running impact loading among preschool-aged children. The authors evaluated 48 habitually shod preschool children aged 3 to 6 years, which were...

Xiang L, et al. Shock acceleration and attenuation during running with minimalist and maximalist shoes: a time-and frequency-domain analysis of tibial acceleration. Bioengineering 9.7 (2022): 322.

This study investigates how different types of running shoes—minimalist (MINs), maximalist (MAXs), and conventional (CONs)—affect the shock experienced by the tibia (the shin bone) during running. The researchers wanted to understand how these shoes influence the...

Sventeckis A, et al. Cross-sectional size, shape, and estimated strength of the tibia, fibula and second metatarsal in female collegiate-level cross-country runners and soccer players. Bone. 2024 Aug 9:117233.

This simple study has huge implications for managing tibial stress fractures in young running athletes. The authors performed a cross-sectional study comparing differences in size, shape, and strength of the tibia, fibula, and second metatarsal shaft in 16 collegiate...

Hayman O, et al. Long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation and neuromuscular function in older adults. Current Opinion in Clin Nutrition & Metabolic Care. 2024 Jul 23:10-97.

The authors begin this paper by pointing out that by the year 2050, there will be 2.1 billion people over the age of 60. Unfortunately, as many as 27% of older adults will be classified as having sarcopenia, which greatly increases the risk of falls, hospitalizations,...