Many of the new shoes designed to help us run faster marathons are technologically advanced to reduce ground forces. Currently, the effect of Technologically Advanced Running Shoes (TARS) is not conclusive, however a recent study of 15 runners evaluated the differences between minimalist (MIN), conventionally designed shoes (CON) and TARS shows how they may reduce ground forces and possibly reduce the risk of injury. Some of the TARS can cost $250 or more and use carbon plates and special materials to improve running efficiency. Many of the conventional shoes also have boutique shoes that are competing for your foot with names like On, Oofoos or Swift. Other brands we have all seen in stores include mainstream brands such as Diodora, Nike, Under Armor, Saucony, New Balance, Hoka and Brooks. We are not all created equal and have different body mechanics, different shoe needs and ultimately, to improve ground impact, you must look above the feet to fully understand core dynamics and what causes impact which must include gait asymmetries. Sometimes, reducing ground impact is as simple as a foot orthotic which stabilizes the core and improves how it works. While shoe dynamics can control some of it, finding the ultimate shoe for you is not about all the features, but how you function in it. Also, how you size the shoe can make huge differences because your comfort and movement of the bones in the foot while running depend on the shoe not being tight and too constrictive when walking or running. Some shoe chains such as Road Runner have treadmills on the sales floor however, the devices are used to sell a rather expensive sort of custom orthotics that I have personally never seen work. On the other hand, watching or recording a runner on a treadmill with different shoes can tell us how they run in that technology which can be far more helpful to a runner looking for a better shoe for them. Read the study which was only done on 15 people. What to you think? Technologically advanced running shoes reduce biomechanical factors of running related injury risk