Speakers
Yaodong Gu (China)
BIO
Prof. Dr. Yaodong Gu is currently the Dean of Faculty of Sports Science at Ningbo University,
Chief Scientist of the National Key R&D Program, and has been named to global top 0.05%
scholars (ScholarGPS), the World’s Top 2% Scientists list. Meanwhile, he is a Fellow of The
Royal Society of Medicine, Honorary Professor at the University of Auckland, New Zealand,
and Senior Consultant at ANTA Sports Products Limited. His research focuses on
biomechanics and sports engineering, combining wearable technology and computational
modeling to optimize human movement for enhanced performance and injury prevention.
Additionally, he serves as Editor-in-Chief of Physical Activity and Health and International
Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, and as Associate Editor of the Journal of
Biomechanics. He has published over 400 peer-reviewed papers in journals.
🔗 ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Yaodong-Gu
Institutional webpage: https://tyxy.nbu.edu.cn/info/1941/21351.htm
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2187-9440
AFFILIATION:
Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
LECTURE TITLE
The Biomechanics of Running Shoes-From Frontier Exploration to Translational Development
As a natural extension of the foot, running shoes serve as the sole medium through which the
foot interacts with the ground during running. Running shoes that align structurally and
functionally with human biomechanical characteristics play a critical role in enhancing
performance and preventing injuries. Current research in both academia and industry
primarily focuses on optimizing midsole material properties and carbon plate configurations.
However, the biomechanical implications of fundamental design elements such as toe box
design and center of mass positioning remain insufficiently explored. Leveraging deep
industry-academia collaboration, our research team has centered its efforts on investigating
the biomechanical mechanisms of multi-parameter shoe design. The present work reveals the
potential benefits of innovations such as toe box space optimization and dynamic center of
mass modulation in improving running economy and mitigating injury risk. This presentation
integrates core development cases in the field of high-performance racing footwear and
provides a comprehensive evaluation of design innovations from three dimensions:
biomechanical response, performance translation, and clinical injury prevention. Additionally,
drawing on global research trends and interdisciplinary integration, it offers forward-looking
insights into the evolution of multi-parameter co-design paradigms, providing both theoretical
foundation and practical guidance for the next-generation advancement of running shoe
technology.
CONTACT