This review combined 15 studies on healthy adults to compare carbon-plated running shoes with non-carbon-plated shoes. The researchers looked at how the shoes affected step frequency, leg stiffness, and power at the foot, ankle, knee, and hip.
The main finding was that there were no significant differences in leg stiffness or power at the knee, hip, or foot between the two shoe types. A borderline reduction in ankle power was noted with carbon-plated shoes, but this was not a strong effect. Step frequency showed a small, non-significant decrease.
The certainty of the evidence ranged from low to moderate, and no safety issues were reported. The main reason to be careful is that the findings are based on biomechanical measurements, not on running performance or injury risk.
Readers should understand that carbon-plated shoes may not produce clear, consistent changes in lower-limb mechanics for most runners. The evidence does not show they are better or worse for running outcomes.