I recently found myself at the running store looking for new sneakers to see if I could find anything to improve the comfort on my knee, which had suffered a previous cartilage injury. After some trial and error I came across the Adidas BOOST. I figured, “OK, maybe this will help with energy return, but will this have any impact on my knee now that I’ve had a menisectomy?” With the BOOST, I noticed a significant difference after running for only 50 meters. Upon returning to my current running shoe, the Brooks Ravenna, I instantly felt the sensitivity return to my knee. The Adidas BOOST is a new technology in cushioning, which provides more energy return that any other foam cushioning material used in the running industry. The BOOST seems to be the perfect combination of soft comfort with responsive energy.
After doing a bit more research I also found that the BOOST performs more consistently and doesn’t lose its cushioning properties like standard EVA material after wear and tear through different terrains, environmental factors, and after extended use. It uses a unique blown plastic produced in an auto manufacturing facility that allows the energy returning properties. I was very surprised by the fact that this new foam technology could have such an instant impact on my cartilage defect. I ran my observations by biomechanics guru Benno Nigg PhD who told me that this technology is progress in shoe construction and that runners ranked these shoes the most comfortable. Although shoe companies have learned from the Vibram lawsuit that it is not wise to make claims that their shoes have health benefits, I plan on recommending this shoe to any of my future patients with similar knee injuries.