Van Hooren et al. 2025, Mediating effects of biomechanics and comfort on running economy across shoes

Very low concordance in how individuals rank shoes (Kendall’s W = 0.16); no measured biomechanical, anthropometric, muscle-architecture, or comfort trait reliably mediated the relationship between shoe and running economy. Moderate (41 recreational runners, five shoes, one running speed — findings are indicative but underpowered for generalisation).