How are Spanish athletes using technological advanced running shoes (TARS)? Do they influence injuries?

Objectives: To determinate how technological advanced running shoes (TARS) are being used by high-level athletes and to detect changes in the distribution of musculoskeletal injuries among athletes who use TARS. Material and method: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was designed. All Spanish athletes who participated in international championships (n = 221) during summer 2023 were invited to complete a questionnaire with demographic, training load, using of TARS and status health questions. Results: The questionnaire was completed by 221 (100%) athletes; 184 (83.3%) athletes claimed to use TARS, for 1.93 years on average, of whom 157 (71%) used TARS in both competition and training. In relation to muscle fatigue and muscle recovery using TARS, 28 (75,6%) of long distance and 16 (66,6%) of middle distance runners perceived less muscle fatigue, whereas 36 (52,8%) of sprinters perceived more muscle fatigue. 105 (47.5%) reported a time-loss injury. Athletes who use more time TARS and run more kilometres with them perceived more muscle fatigue (P <0.001) and reported more time-loss injuries (P <0.01). Conclusions: More than 85% of sprint, middle and long distance, hurdles, multiple events and race-walking athletes use TARS. More than two thirds of middle and long distance athletes accumulate less muscle fatigue with its use, while more than half of the sprint, hurdles and multiple events athletes accumulate greater muscle fatigue. Time of use, both in years and percentage of use, could be associated with a greater accumulated muscle fatigue and a greater presence of time-loss injuries.