Description
Oral presentation in section: Advanced Technology in running.INTRODUCTION:
Advanced Footwear Technology (AFT) has gained strong scientific interest in recent years, reflecting its
potential to enhance running economy and performance in long-distance running. Despite the substantial
research output, relatively few studies have examined the effects of carbon-plated shoes in running trials longer
than 10 minutes. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of the Nike Alphafly 3 carbon-plated shoes
on running economy during a 30-minute submaximal treadmill run.
METHODS:
Thirty elite long-distance runners (14 females and 16 males) performed two identical 30-minute submaximal runs
in conventional running footwear and Nike Alphafly 3 carbon-plated shoes. The runs were separated by a
two-week interval, with the carbon-plated shoe trial always performed first. Running physiology was measured
continuously throughout the trial. Running kinematics were recorded every fifth minute for 5 minutes during the
trial using the OptoJump Next system (Microgate, Italy) and the BTS G-WALK sensor (BTS Bioengineering, Italy).
Blood lactate concentration was measured every 10 minutes, and subjective perceived exertion was assessed
immediately following each lactate measurement using a modified Borg CR-10 scale.
RESULTS:
Running in carbon-plated shoes resulted in significantly lower blood lactate levels, with a tendency for further
decline during the second half of the trial. Reduced heart rate values were also observed, with some participants
demonstrating decreases greater than 10 beats/min compared with conventional running footwear. All
participants reported lower perceived exertion ratings when wearing the Nike Alphafly 3; however, comfort
ratings varied, particularly among rearfoot strikers or runners unfamiliar with the specific shoe model. Running
kinematic analysis revealed increased step length, contact time and vertical oscillation values when running in
carbon-plated shoe model.
CONCLUSION:
AFT demonstrates clear physiological advantages over conventional running footwear during a submaximal
30-minute run. Improvements tend to become more pronounced as running duration increases. The observed
benefits are primarily associated with the shoe-induced changes in running kinematics (increased step length
and prolonged contact time) and the runner's ability to effectively adapt to them. Rearfoot strikers and runners
not familiar with particular shoe conditions seem to benefit less than well-adapted midfoot and forefoot strikers.
The observed increase in vertical oscillation values highlights a critical and recently discussed aspect of the
potential long-term effects of AFT on the musculoskeletal system and injury risk, particularly in runners with
reduced lower-extremity muscle strength or excessive pronation.
| Period | 10 Jul 2026 |
|---|---|
| Event title | 31st Annual Congress of the European college of sport science |
| Event type | Congress |
| Conference number | 31 |
| Location | Lausanne, SwitzerlandShow on map |
| Degree of Recognition | International |