Is your Footwear Functional Part 2: Studded Footwear

So you want to know the best studded footwear for your sport? The answer to this question is a little more complicated when talking about studded footwear as there are a few things to consider.

Let’s first talk about the structure of a traditional cleated shoe.

Cleated shoes have a few differences in comparison to traditional footwear. The Sole Plate, which is the bottom of the shoe, tends to be made out of a very stiff/firm plastic to provide structural rigidity to the shoe. The insole is usually a very thin foam insert, and can be quite difficult to replace, as well as making it difficult to add any additional support. Most have a very shallow/narrow toe box, but this creates rigidity in the shoe and essentially control of the foot.

These shoes tend to have a zero heel to toe drop (go back to my first article for this explanation) this ensures a “level” foot so studs are not creating higher pressure at the forefoot vs the rearfoot. Some studded footwear can have a negative drop, where the heel is lower than the forefoot. Athletes going through growth spurts need to evaluate their footwear to not have a negative drop angle, as this puts the individual in a dorsiflexed position which recruits the gastrocs muscle for a longer period of time to get to plantarflexion and toe off. Calcaneus injury such as Achilles Tenosynovitis or even Sever’s could be the outcome here.

Now let’s review Pressure Per Stud. Depending on the type of footwear you have, there could be 7-12 prominent studs or larger/longer studs imbedded into smaller stud net (common in turf shoes) They assist with distributing pressure evenly across the sole plate. Depending on the surface you are training/playing on the studs change in number and length. Some footwear has detachable cleats, where shorter studs can be swapped out for longer ones and vice versa. These detachable studded shoes are convenient for a few reasons, cost effectiveness is definitely one of them. Based on the number of studs and the ground one is practicing/playing on can impact comfort and safety.

So now that we have gone over a few key points for the construction of the shoe, let’s think about surface and what would be best for the different types;

Firm Ground (FG): Firm ground shoes are great for natural grass surfaces where it does not rain regularity. They are also a good option for artificial ground. Your shoes should have shorter studs especially if the grass is mowed often. The stud configuration tends to be closer to a bit higher as more studs will distribute pressure more evenly on a firmer surface.

Soft Ground (SG): Soft ground shoes would be useful in areas where natural grass is kept long or the area is wet from rain much of the time. The studs here would be long enough to poke through the surface of the grass allowing for better traction and control. If there studs used for this ground were short, there would not be enough traction, potentially creating sliding and slipping. Stud configuration is lower, as less studs are needed to distribute pressure evenly.

Artificial Ground (AG): mimics grass, but is a bit firmer. Although AG is made to mimic this, you should never wear your FG or SG shoes on AG surfaces. The orientation of the studs are shorter and there tends to be more of them for great traction.

Artificial Turf (AT): is very hard ground and requires studs that are quite shallow would be required here. This type of surface is quite hard on joints making it a less ideal surface to practice/play on.

Footwear with studs should never feel uncomfortable when they are the correct size and being used on the correct surface. Footwear that is too big, the studs will not sit on the right areas of the foot, thus creating abnormal pressure in areas. The foot will also shift and shear in the shoe creating jamming at the toes and blistering. Alternatively using footwear meant for soft surfaces on hard ones increases joint pressure and can lead to injury.

The above are guidelines and it is important to note being assessed and having a professional review your gait, understand your sport and the footwear used during practice and games is important. It is always encouraged to be assessed by a specialist and discuss your specific needs with them.

If you have any questions, it is always recommended to see a Chiropodist (Foot Specialist) who can assess and determine your mechanics to provide you with the correct footwear information you need.