Sneakers - Is It All Hype?

Online, June 15, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Remembering back 20 - 30 years, the Pro Ked sneaker was very popular. Not only was it used by professional athletes (especially in basketball), but also by collegiate, high school, and recreational athletes. "The Pro Ked was a low cut sneaker that allowed for full range of motion in the ankle joint and did not have any built up support structures" says Dr. Yessis. It was a very comfortable shoe (again, especially in basketball) that allowed the athletes to perform well.

Today, because of the hype surrounding the different types of shoes available, it is said that special shoes are needed for every different sport and special shoes for various types of foot problems. Yet the number of problems and injuries to the feet seem to be increasing even with specialized shoes that are supposed to help prevent injury, and most importantly, improve performance. Recent studies indicate that the shoes are not doing the job they are made for - they are not supporting the hype accompanying them! In fact one study shows that the higher the price of the shoe the greater the incidence of injury.

In regard to the Pro Ked sneakers because it was a low cut shoe, it allowed the ankle to function as needed in jumping, running, and cutting. Today, however, in basketball, most athletes wear a high top sneaker which is supposed to give lateral support to the ankle as well as greater cushioning abilities. If the shoes are laced properly, there could probably be some support but it would not allow a quick execution or effective cutting or jumping actions since the ankle would be unable to function as needed. In addition, it would hinder ones ability to run at maximum speed. The reason for this is that the ankle would not be able to go through its full range of adduction, abduction, flexion and extension movements.

The new shoes may have more cushioning properties, but the more cushioning, the less the muscles and tendons of the foot and leg are involved which interferes with their normal functioning in jumping, running and cutting. The cushioning absorbs the energy on each landing so that there is no energy return when taking off again in a run or a jump. The muscles and tendons do a much more effective job of cushioning and most importantly, withstanding the forces and giving them back in the next push-off.

Thus when one looks back on some on the old sneakers that were considered inferior, it is now known that they were far superior to many of the shoes on the market today. Sadly the Pro Ked is not making a come back in the athletic market and it is mainly for show. According to the new Pro Ked literature they are more of a fashion statement rather than a performance statement.

Dr. Michael Yessis is a PhD (from USC) in Kinesiology and Biomechanics, a Professor at Cal State Fullerton, where he was a multi-sports specialist in biomechanics (technique analysis) and sports conditioning & training.

He's more than a theorist, having trained the NFL's Raiders and Rams and US Volleyball team. Dr. Yessis is more than just a coach, in fact he coaches the coaches. Dr. Yessis is considered this country's foremost expert on sports technique. In the Jan 2011 issue of Muscle & Fitness, Dr. Yessis is referred to as the legendary biomechanist.

Dr. Yessis has written 16 books in the sports and fitness field including Build A Better Athlete and "Biomechanics & Kinesiology of Exercise, and written more than 2,000 articles on sports training and specifically the training of runners, including articles that have appeared inTrack and Field Coaches Review, Running Times and Triathlete magazines. He discusses running form and proper technique for all sports at his website Dr. Yessis.