The London Podiatry Centre continues to objectively assess the effects of shoes on patient performance and injury. In this test the ASICS Metaride was compared to the well-established ASICS Kayano. The patient in question had midfoot pain with arthritis and the aim of the test was to determine which shoe allowed the patient to perform more efficiently, so offering greater protection against her condition.

One test undertaken was to assess the level of propulsive rear foot pronation using our Vicon 3-dimensional analysis system. In simplistic terms abnormal pronation can be described as excessive collapse of the arch and ankle at a time when the foot should be more stable, and we objectively and scientifically tested this by measuring how long the hindfoot pronation phase lasted.  Ideally, pronation should end at 50% percent or less of the time that the foot is in contact with the ground (this is called the stance phase).  The results showed that when wearing the ASICS Metaride trainer, the pronation value was 71% on the left and 36% on the right and 52.6% on the left and 35.6% when wearing the Kayano trainer. Therefore, the ASICS Kayano performed better in this instance. 

Objective testing of the ASICS Metaride features includes a high resistance to toe flexion (at least double that of the ASICS Kayano) and this is an inherent feature of the shoe which we had anticipated might improve the patient's efficiency.

We continue to be excited about the ASICS Metaride and has seen some patients greatly benefit from this shoe especially in the presence of forefoot pathology. In this case however, the ASICS Kayano offered superior stability of the hindfoot as might be expected given that this shoe has more of an anti-pronation construction.  This is important for this patient because controlling excessive pronation can reduce stress on arthritic joints in the foot and ankle. The reduced heel pitch may also have influenced the results. The patient found the ASICS Kayano more comfortable and this in part was because the shoe was wider than the Metaride and therefore accommodated her slight forefoot deformity.

We would conclude that patients that present with a degree abnormal pronation and excessive collapse of the arch and ankle would be better using the ASICS Kayano, especially if they have a wide forefoot and looking for a more responsive shoe. However, the response will be dependant on the nature of the patient’s condition.