Promises of extra stability, motion control and added cushioning can be found in footwear advertising everywhere. However, does that pledge of added protection actually pan out?

A group of doctors including several from the U.S. Army and Navy decided to find out.

In June, The American Journal of Sports Medicine published their study that took a closer look at injury prevention based on shoe customization. They wanted to know if specialized shoes sold by footwear manufacturers really worked.

For the experiment, they outfitted 722 Marine Corps recruits in shoes—one group received specialized shoes based on arch height among other factors, and the control group laced up the same stability shoe. For the following 12 weeks, recruits were observed via the Defense Medical Surveillance System.

The results? The doctors found little difference in injury risk between the groups.

“Simply measuring the foot morphology with (this type of) technique is not sufficient for prescribing footwear if your objective is to prevent injuries,” Dr. Bruce Jones, an investigator on the study at the U.S. Army Public Health Command, told Reuters Health.

While one study alone can’t completely dispel customization based on plantar shapes, it certainly makes you think twice before buying footwear solely based on that type of technology. Your best bet? Select boots that feel the most comfortable on your feet.

(Image via Wikimedia)