Devon has been involved in research exploring how runners move, how footwear influences running biomechanics, and what factors may contribute to running performance and injury. Here are some of the papers that he has contributed to, translated into a more accessible format.
Loading rate increases during barefoot running in habitually shod runners: Individual responses to an unfamiliar condition
Gait & Posture, 2016
Barefoot running has often been promoted as a way to reduce the forces experienced by the body. This study found that the response is much more individual than that. For many runners, suddenly removing their shoes actually increased the rate at which forces were applied to the body. It is a useful reminder that there is rarely a single “correct” running style for everyone.
Are gait characteristics and ground reaction forces related to energy cost of running in elite Kenyan runners?
Journal of Sports Sciences, 2017
We studied elite Kenyan runners to investigate whether their running mechanics could help explain their exceptional running economy. Their ground contact times were around 10% shorter than those reported in comparable elite runners, alongside a lower oxygen cost of running. The findings provide an interesting window into one of the world’s most successful distance-running populations.
Muscle co-activation and its influence on running performance and risk of injury in elite Kenyan runners
Journal of Sports Sciences, 2017
Running requires muscles to coordinate precisely to produce movement while also controlling the forces travelling through the body. This study examined muscle activation in elite Kenyan runners and explored how this coordination relates to running economy, joint stiffness and potential injury-related factors. It highlights how running performance isn’t simply about having stronger muscles, but about how effectively they work together.
Acute fatigue negatively affects risk factors for injury in trained but not well-trained habitually shod runners when running barefoot
European Journal of Sport Science, 2017
Running mechanics don’t necessarily stay the same throughout a run. We investigated how fatigue changes biomechanical factors associated with injury when runners switch from shoes to barefoot running. The findings highlight an important concept for runners: how you run when you’re fresh isn’t necessarily how you run when you’re tired.
Conceptualizing minimalist footwear: an objective definition
Journal of Sports Sciences, 2018
“Minimalist shoe” sounds simple, but there wasn’t a consistent scientific definition of what that actually meant. This review examined the characteristics of minimalist footwear and proposed an objective way of defining it based on factors such as shoe weight, flexibility, sole thickness and heel-to-toe difference. It is particularly interesting for anyone trying to understand what their running shoes are actually doing to their running mechanics.