rod

Are there any scientific studies proving the efficacy of this method? As in a controlled study showing that it reduces long term injury rates versus the old method or even random selection? If not, what prompted you to spend the money on it? And who are “the gait guys”?

the gait guys just released a shoe fit certification program that is pertinent to this post and think you would find interesting. it’s kind of pricey ($450-ish after you buy all 3 videos and the certification exam) but goes into depth about foot/leg anatomy and mechanics and how to fit the person correctly in their opinion. this is actually level I certification. levels 2 and 3 are to be released later this year for advanced shoe fitting.
i passed the level I certification last week. their methodology focuses on foot types (rearfoot varus, forefoot varus, etc), leg structure, specific muscle strength, and a bit more for shoe fit.
it doesn’t really take pronation (as viewed from behind, like most running stores do) into account when pulling shoes, which i like, but they do recommend stability shoes for certain people (rearfoot valgus, for example). and they do think that “overpronation” can be a contributing factor with some injuries, which i’d think you agree with. it’s just not a bad thing in and of itself obviously.
they are big fans of minimalist shoes, but feel that a person has to “earn” their way into minimalism. that is, you someone with injuries should not get a minimalist shoe hoping to increase the strength of a specific intrinsic muscle deficit because it may just force you to compensate for that weakness in a different way and cause more (or worse) problems than you already have.
their hope is to get it out to running stores so stores are being a bit more consistent in fitting runners. it’s good stuff. i’m not sure how much it will catch on because it is fairly pricey, but i’ve learned a ton in the process and am looking at my customers with a much expanded field of vision nowadays.
anyway, thought i’d inject a few comments into the mix. their podcasts are a bit technical for the average person, but you would love them. free on itunes. search “the gait guys”
eric johnson, managerultramax sportswww.ultramaxsports.comspringfield, mo

John – Such a great way to put it! -> “The proper shoe for that individual–be it a Mizuno Universe or a Brooks Beast–will feel like it is a part of the foot. It will disappear the most. The intuitive response is almost invariably the correct one. “

Pete – Another great post… keep ’em coming. Keep up the good work!

I like that phrasing – the best shoe will “disappear” on your foot. That’s exactly how I have felt running marathons in the Kinvara and running my recent half marathon in the Grid Type A5. When you’ve found the right shoe you know it.

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Pete Larson’s Web Links:
My book: Tread Lightly – http://ow.ly/bdUO0
Blog: https://runblogger.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/oblinkin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Runbl…

Your experience as a runner comes into play here.
Buy a shoe that is very built up in order to “protect” you and cushion you from the elements and “injury” and instead of the shoe disappearing on your foot, your foot disappears in the shoe.

Thanks for letting me know Eric. I guess my response would be that I’m not sure I’d be willing to pay that kind of money unless the process has been vetted and proven to be effective. We got into the mess we’re in now by smart people proposing fitting models that were never really proven to be effective, and now that we’ve found out that they aren’t particularly effective, we look back on the last 30 years and have to ask ourselves why we did what we did. The other big problem is that any fitting protocol relies on honesty from the manufacturers that their shoes do what they say they’ll do. So if the protocol calss for stability, do they specify which shoes to choose from.

I can see paying that money to attend a workshop for CEU’s or something like that, but this kind of rubs me the wrong way.

—-
Pete Larson’s Web Links:
My book: Tread Lightly – http://ow.ly/bdUO0
Blog: https://runblogger.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/oblinkin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Runbl…

You beat me to it – that was exactly my question. I’d need some evidence suggesting to me that this is better than what we have now before I bought into it.

—-
Pete Larson’s Web Links:
My book: Tread Lightly – http://ow.ly/bdUO0
Blog: https://runblogger.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/oblinkin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Runbl…