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Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5148-1472

Date Available

5-30-2027

Year of Publication

2026

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

College

Education

Department/School/Program

Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Faculty

Fan Gao

Faculty

Haley Bergstrom

Abstract

Background: Advanced footwear technology (AFT) has repeatedly shown to improve running economy (RE) by ~4% on average; however, substantial inter-individual variability exists. Purpose: To identify biomechanical, anthropometric, and perceptual factors associated with variability in RE responses to AFT, while evaluating intra-individual reliability of RE and percent change in RE between shoe conditions (%ΔWMET). Methods: Eighteen well-trained distance runners (males = 15, females = 3) completed four visits, including two graded exercise tests (one in each shoe condition) and two sessions containing 4 × 5-min treadmill trials at standardized speeds while wearing AFT (Nike Alphafly) and a traditional training shoe (Nike Revolution 5) in a randomized crossover design. Gas exchange and biomechanical variables were collected to quantify RE (expressed as metabolic power, WMET). Intra-individual trial-to-trial and day-to-day reliability were assessed for both absolute WMET and %ΔWMET. 

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2026.132

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Archival

Funding Information

This research was supported by the University of Kentucky College of Education, Kinesiology and Health Promotion Block Funds Graduate Research Award in 2025

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Available for download on Sunday, May 30, 2027

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