Motion-control shoes reduce the risk of pronation-related pathologies in recreational runners: A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial

• OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether motioncontrol shoes reduce the risk of pronation-related injuries in recreational runners. • DESIGN: Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial of the effect of shoes on running injuries. • METHODS: Three hundred seventy-two recreational runners were randomized to receive either standard neutral or motion-control shoes and were followed up for 6 months regarding running activity and injury. Running injuries that occurred during this period were registered and classified as pronation- related injuries (Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciopathy, exercise-related lower-leg pain, and anterior knee pain) or other running-related injuries. With the use of competing risk analysis, the relationship between pronation-related and other running-related injuries and shoe type was evaluated by estimating the cause-specific hazard, controlling for other possible confounders like age, sex, body mass index, previous injury, and sport participation pattern. • RESULTS: Twenty-five runners sustained pronation-related running injuries and 68 runners sustained other running-related injuries. Runners wearing the motion-control shoes had a lower risk of pronation-related running injuries compared with runners who wore standard neutral shoes (hazard ratio = 0.41; 95% confidence interval: 0.17, 0.98). There was no effect of shoe type (hazard ratio = 0.68; 95% confidence interval: 0.41, 1.10) on the risk of other running-related injuries. • CONCLUSION: Motion-control shoes may reduce the risk of pronation-related running injuries, but did not influence the risk of other running-related injuries.