Awareness and compliance with recommended running shoe guidelines among U.S. Army soldiers

The purpose of this study was to determine awareness and compliance with recommended running shoe selection, sizing, and replacement guidelines among U.S. Army soldiers. Soldiers (n = 524) attending training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas completed self-report questionnaires and a foot assessment, which included measurement of foot size and arch height index. Researchers examined each soldier's running shoes for type, wear pattern, and general condition. Thirty-five percent of the soldiers wore shoes that were inappropriately sized; 56.5% wore shoes that were inappropriate for their foot type. Thirty-five percent of the soldiers had excessively worn shoes and 63% did not know recommended shoe replacement guidelines. Further efforts may be necessary to ensure that soldiers are aware of and compliant with recommended running shoe selection, sizing, and replacement guidelines. Future research is needed to determine whether adherence to these guidelines has a favorable effect on reducing risk of overuse injury.