During the Outdoor Retailer show, Brooks released a white paper, entitled the Stride Signature, reflecting the brand’s extensive research in biomechanics over the last few years. Among the findings were that each runner’s joint geometry and motion patterns are “completely unique,” going against the notion that issues such as overpronation are necessarily wrong and should be adjusted or fixed.
As such, the focus is on keeping the runner in their 'stride signature,' or preferred motion path for as long as possible during their run.
In the 17-page paper, Brooks lays out its proposals and the scientific support for its research. It also noted that the research represents the “the first iteration of research” into such thinking and urged the industry to “start a dialogue” to help further the research. Brooks noted, “While we don’t have all the answers, we believe we are onto something meaningful for the runner.”
The research stemmed from four years of prospective research studies on hundreds of runners and work with some of its key specialty retail partners. The research supported the unveiling during the Outdoor Retailer show of the Transcend, which is replacing Brooks' flagship stability shoe, Trance.
The full report is here.
The Conclusion of the white paper follows:
CONCLUSION
The concept of Stride Signature starts with the runner, not the shoe. By taking a small step back and re-examining the foundation of our biomechanical assumptions, we are able to take a massive leap forward in our ability to better match runners to the right shoes. The idea that your joint geometry and motion patterns are completely unique is the basis for the need to start with the individual’s natural form. Think of a golf swing. The next time you turn on a golf tournament, watch closely how each golfer’s swing is unique. They are all at the top of the game not because they have perfected a singular perfect swing, but because they have embraced the natural characteristics of their own swing and found a way to make it consistent and highly repeatable. Consistent and highly repeatable is exactly what we are going for with Stride Signature. We want to understand the runner’s natural pathway, and then build shoes to assist the body’s desire to stay in that motion pattern for as long as possible.
We want to decode comfort in a running shoe. Why are there so many different shoes out there that work perfectly for one runner, but fall completely flat for the next? Why do some runners prefer a soft ride, while others prefer something firm? Why do some seek support while others go for flexibility? This is the beauty and challenge fitting running shoes. Up until now, finding your perfect shoe could take years of trial and error. And when you finally find that one perfect shoe, it changes – a frustrating process for runners. What if we told you that by better understanding you as a runner your Natural Habitual Joint Motion patterns, and the dozens of parameters that make up your unique stride that we could start to take the guess work out of it? That is exactly what we are looking to do with the concept of Stride Signature. It will involve a massive paradigm shift in how we evaluate runners. No longer will overpronation be the final diagnosis. It will merely serve as one of the many parameters that help us to better understand how to optimize you and your habitual motion path.
We are excited to dedicate our brand to fully embracing this concept. We are just getting started at understanding all of the complexities that make this such as breakthrough idea. We don't have all of the answers, but we do know that we are at a revolutionary point in the running shoe industry that will impact footwear design and functionality for many years to come. Brooks is focused on leading the efforts to reduce injuries, enhance comfort, and improve performance for all runners. Stride Signature is the sea change needed to flip the current paradigm on end and forge a new runner-centric path to help everyone Run Happy!
