Why Extra Cushioning in Your Shoes Might Increase Foot Stress

Some doctors worry max-cushion running shoes could pose long-term risks to feet, ankles, knees or hips; your soft landing may be the problem.

On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on Weekend Edition
Published 5:27 PM ET, Saturday, October 10, 2026
Updated 1:47 AM ET · aired 2 times

Photo: Birgit Brånvall · CC BY 3.0 no · Wikimedia Commons

▶ As it aired · Tech

Watch it as it aired: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on this story, from Weekend Edition at 5:27 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are WSJ's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: Birgit Brånvall · CC BY 3.0 no · Wikimedia Commons

Photo: Shoe — Photo: Birgit Brånvall · CC BY 3.0 no · Wikimedia Commons

At a glance

First reported by WSJ: “Why Extra Cushioning in Your Shoes Might Actually Increase Stress on Your Feet”.
Covered on BBN on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 5:27 PM ET on Weekend Edition, by Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield; aired 2 times.

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

WSJWhy Extra Cushioning in Your Shoes Might Actually Increase Stress on Your Feet

What BBN said about it

Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentDoctors told the Wall Street Journal that max-cushion shoes may add long-term stress to feet, ankles, knees and hips.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentSoft is not the same as safe.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentI'm wearing mine right now. It's like standing on a cloud that loves me.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThe cloud may be billing your knees.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentBilling them how?
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentSlowly. Over years. You won't feel the warning.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentI can't feel anything in these. That's the whole feature.

▶ Watch BBN liveMore Tech →

More Shorts

All videos →

Photo: NASA/Bill Stafford, James Blair, Regan Geeseman · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
▶ As it aired · TechViral robot video shows XRobotDoll's expressions, not emotionsRead the story
Photo: Tisha Mukherjee · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
▶ As it aired · TechNew York City's latest famous family is a barn owl broodRead the story
▶ Interviews · U.S.A film about being ordinary, shot on four continentsAbout this segment
▶ As it aired · TechMass. bakery's viral "dot cakes" for National Cake Decorating DayRead the story
▶ As it aired · TechAI bots are now scamming the scammersRead the story
▶ Interviews · U.S.How high was Ramírez's pitch? A loaf. A coin. A pea.About this segment
Photo: Lemone · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
▶ As it aired · Tech"Espresso Brown" Is Fall's Trending Hair ColorRead the story
▶ As it aired · Tech8 annoying tasks you can hand off to an AI agentRead the story
▶ Hot Take or Not · U.S.Vinicius Jr's hair-pull red card, as a weather reportAbout this segment
Photo: Mr.ちゅらさん · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
▶ As it aired · TechCash App users could get up to $2,500 in $15M breach settlementRead the story