St Mary's Study Finds Effect of Wearing Weightlifting Shoes

Academics from the Strength and Conditioning (S&C) Programmes at St Mary’s University, Twickenham have published research that found weightlifting shoes can help athletes perform a back squat. The paper, published in the Journal of Sport Sciences, studied the performance of 32 athletes, grouped by experience and gender. Each group underwent a series of tests, using both weightlifting shoes and athletic shoes, with data collected using a 3D motion camera and a force plate. Under lead author Hayley Legg, the study found that weightlifting shoes do cause changes in the squat movement. The results are consistent with the idea that weightlifting shoes permit greater knee flexion and a more upright posture during squatting. Programme Director for MSc Strength and Conditioning Science Dr Daniel Cleather said, “Hayley’s study is a great example of the applied research performed at St Mary’s – using cutting edge technology to provide clinical information that is immediately relevant to practitioners.” The S&C programmes at St Mary’s are internationally recognised as being leaders in the discipline. The facilities at St Mary’s include a 5000 square foot Performance Education Centre, a world class strength and conditioning laboratory. The University also regularly welcomes elite athletes to train and undergo testing in its facilities, including international teams, premier league footballers and Olympians. To find out more about S&C at St Mary’s please click here.