A Multiphase Analysis of Next-generation Trail Footwear
Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorFernando González-Mohíno Mayoralas
About this trial
This study will investigate how different advanced-foam trail-running footwear configurations affect running economy, performance, comfort, and fatigue in competitive trail runners. The project aims to determine whether footwear characteristics, particularly foam properties and stack height, influence physiological and biomechanical responses during both controlled laboratory running and real-world trail running.
Approximately 30 competitive trail runners with experience in technical trail running and no musculoskeletal injury during the previous six months will participate. The study will use a two-phase experimental design.
In Phase 1, participants will complete running economy assessments in three footwear conditions in randomized order. The footwear conditions will include a high-stack advanced-foam prototype, a medium-stack advanced-foam prototype, and a conventional-foam shoe. Laboratory testing will be performed during uphill and downhill treadmill running. Participants will also complete field-based running economy trials on real trail terrain at a controlled speed, followed by a short time trial to establish a representative running pace.
In Phase 2, participants will complete prolonged trail-running sessions in the two advanced-foam footwear configurations on a 15-km trail course. Running economy and fatigue-related responses will be assessed repeatedly during the prolonged exercise sessions to evaluate changes in physiological and biomechanical efficiency over time.
The primary physiological outcome will be running economy, assessed through oxygen consumption and energy cost. Additional outcomes will include heart rate, step frequency, step length, ground contact time, perceived exertion, comfort, perceived performance, and pacing-related measures.
The study will compare laboratory and field responses to determine whether differences in running economy observed under controlled conditions are maintained during real trail running and whether footwear configuration influences the deterioration of running economy and fatigue during prolonged exercise.
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
Competitive trail runners.
Experience in technical trail running.
Willingness to provide written informed consent.
Disqualifiers
Musculoskeletal injury in the previous 6 months.
Trial design
Design model
Crossover
Treatments tested in this trial
Running footwear
Other interventionThree trail running shoes with different characteristics will be compared in terms of their physiological and biomechanical effects.
Treatment groups
30 Participants
are divided into 3 treatment groupsGroup A: High-Stack Advanced-Foam FootwearExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Medium-Stack Advanced-Foam FootwearExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group C: Conventional-Foam FootwearActive comparator 1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Running economy
Running economy will be assessed through oxygen consumption (V̇O₂) and energy cost expressed in W·kg-¹ during running in the different footwear conditions. Measurements will be obtained using breath-by-breath gas analysis during controlled laboratory and field-based trail-running trials.
Time frame
During each 5-minute running trial for each footwear model in Phase 1 (indoor laboratory conditions) and Phase 2 (outdoor trail-running conditions).Secondary outcomes
1
Heart Rate
Continuous heart rate will be recorded during the running trials to characterize the physiological response to each footwear condition.
Time frame
During each 5-minute running trial for each footwear model in Phase 1 (indoor laboratory conditions) and Phase 2 (outdoor trail-running conditions).2
Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters
Biomechanical responses will be assessed through step frequency (steps/min), step length (m), and ground contact time (ms) during running in the different footwear conditions.
Time frame
During each 5-minute running trial for each footwear model in Phase 1 (indoor laboratory conditions) and Phase 2 (outdoor trail-running conditions).3
Comfort, Perceived Performance, and Rate of Perceived Exertion
Participants' subjective perceptions of footwear comfort, perceived performance, and rate of perceived exertion will be assessed during the experimental running conditions.
Time frame
After each 5-minute running trial for each footwear model in Phase 1 (indoor laboratory conditions) and Phase 2 (outdoor trail-running conditions).Locations
Sponsors and contacts
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
Fernando González-Mohíno Mayoralas
Lead sponsor
University of Castilla-La Mancha
Sponsor institution
Source ClinicalTrials.gov
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