Running-shoe selection, pronation and comfort (evidence)

The traditional model of prescribing shoes from arch height or pronation has largely failed in trials: matching shoe category to foot type does not reduce injury overall. A secondary analysis found motion-control shoes reduced specifically pronation-related injuries in already-pronated runners, but not other injuries or for neutral runners. Nigg’s “preferred movement path” and comfort-filter framework, choosing the shoe that feels most comfortable, has better support, and shoe rotation has been associated with roughly a 39% lower injury rate (Malisoux et al.). Moderate, with the pronation-prescription model rated weak.