She-shoes and he-shoes - differences in designs of men's and women's shoes

Running & FitNews, Sept, 2001

Gender-bias is desirable when shopping for running shoes, but first, manufacturers have to take that into consideration. Female feet and legs are not simply scaled down versions of male feet. Traditionally, women's sport shoes are built with a smaller version of the same shoe last (the mold used to construct a shoe) as used for men's shoes. Yet, according to a new study there are major differences in a wide array of variables including arch shape, the lateral side of the foot, the first toe, and the ball of the foot. Since it is widely understood that proper fit is important in preventing injury and in optimum running performance, researchers at Penn State University analyzed data from 293 men and 491 women and concluded that women's shoes should be made taking into consideration the significant differences between men's and women's feet. While many manufacturers of running shoes do accommodate the differences between men's and women's, until all do, at least make sure that you get the best possible fit you c an from what is available.

(Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 2001, Vol. 33, No. 4, pp. 605-611)