First things first, whether you are wearing strength training shoes or not, the ability to jump high rests on your ability, strength and vertical power. However, many do ask if strength training shoes indeed aid in making a positive difference to a person’s vertical leap ability.

Generally, the purpose of strength training shoes is to enhance one’s total athletic prowess. Strength training shoes have also been created to have a 4 centimeter rubber sole attached to the front half area of the shoes. What is the purpose of a rubber sole attached to the shoe’s front half?

The rubber sole is there in order to stop your heels from striking the ground. Therefore, strength training shoes condition the muscles on your calf to work a lot harder.

The fundamental purpose of strength training shoes is to allow the legs to function as levers. Note how every time you jump and run, your feet work as levers as aided by the muscles in your calves.

Believe it or not, the real benefit of strength training shoes were only proven after a study was conducted by Tulane University scientists. 12 inter-collegiate track and field athletes were assigned the task of proving or disproving the benefits of strength training shoes.

All of the athletes chosen for the study were already participants on running and jumping events. All of them basically adhered to a training regime that was to be done for a full eight weeks.

The study had half of the players wear regular shoes used for training. The other participants had to put on strength training shoes.

The eight-week workout consisted of demanding plyometric drills and stretching exercises. Every workout session lasted 45 minutes and were performed three times each week. Besides the trainings, the athletes also had to do their standard workout regimen.

After the eight weeks were completed, strength training shoes displayed no positive effect on an athlete’s performance.

Specifically, ankle flexibility increased at only 1% in the two groups.

Tests of physical performance were also the same in both. It was discovered that those who wore strength training shoes and those who did not increased the time of their 40-yard dash in equal amounts. The skill of vertical leaps was also greater for those athletes who were not wearing strength training shoes.