Effects of varying longitudinal bending stiffness in running shoes on lower limb biomechanics of elite marathon runners

This study demonstrates that increasing the LBS shoes alters the lower limb biomechanical performance of elite marathon runners. Both MLBS and HLBS conditions reduced MTP joint dorsiflexion, but MLBS shoes significantly increased positive work at the ankle joint and improved joint function while maintaining lower hip joint moments. Among the three conditions, MLBS better balanced mechanical efficiency and natural joint function, suggesting it may be a more biomechanically suitable option for elite marathon runners. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing LBS in performance shoe design, with MLBS offering a potential advantage in both biomechanical performance and injury prevention.