Khaberni - A new scientific study has revealed a shocking reason behind many women suffering from foot pain and injuries while running: most women's athletic shoes are not actually designed for women's feet, but are miniaturized versions of men’s shoes painted in more "feminine" colors!
The study, published in the scientific journal BMJ Open Sports & Exercise Medicine and reported by American magazine "Newsweek", states that footwear manufacturers still adhere to the principle of "shrink it and pink it," which entails modifying men's shoe sizes to fit women only superficially, without considering the anatomical and physiological differences between the genders.
A decades-old gap
Canadian researcher Carla Napier, from the "University of British Columbia", pointed out that the athletic shoe industry has spent billions of dollars over the past five decades on developing improved models for comfort and performance, but most research has focused only on male athletes.
She added: "The design of women's shoes was copied from a male three-dimensional foot mold known as Last, then underwent only minor modifications in length and color."
Women truly need different shoes
To understand the real impact of this approach, the research team conducted interviews with 21 female runners of various ages and training levels in Vancouver, Canada, half of whom were professional runners covering about 45 kilometers a week, and the other half amateurs.
The participants unanimously agreed that comfort is the most important factor when choosing a shoe, followed by injury prevention and then performance.
Most participants called for designs that include a wider toe box, a narrower heel, and additional shock-absorbing cushions. Professional runners emphasized the importance of performance-enhancing elements, such as carbon plates, but not at the expense of comfort or stability.
Mothers involved in the study mentioned the need for wider sizes and additional support during and after pregnancy, while older runners noted that advancing age increases the need for greater structural support for the foot.
Inclusive design for women
Although the study is limited geographically and numerically, it opens up a broad opportunity to rethink the design of running shoes. The researchers concluded that the industry is now required to shift from "smaller copies of men’s shoes" to "designs based on women's data", anatomical, hormonal, and life stage differences across various age phases.
Co-researcher Gurpreet Dillon said: "If the shoe were designed from a real woman’s foot, we might see fewer injuries and more enjoyment in the sport among runners."
