News by Levels · Level 3 · Student worksheet

Foot-Stiffening Socks Cut Energy Use in Treadmill Test

In this lesson: Evaluate the scope of a research claim and read a participle phrase.

Name: __________________________ Date: __________________

Read the story

A small study suggests that socks designed to stiffen the foot could reduce the energy required for walking. The design uses tightly knitted bands around the forefoot, restricting the way it widens under pressure.

Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin compared the socks with a flexible control pair. Twelve healthy young adults walked on a treadmill while the team measured oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production. The special socks reduced the net energy cost by an average of 2%; ten participants showed a reduction.

The researchers found that the stiffer foot allowed calf muscles to contract more economically. The findings, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, come from a small group and do not establish that the design benefits every walker.

Source: Phys.org, 2026-11-04. https://phys.org/news/2026-11-foot-stiffening-socks.html

Read and practise

1. Which headline best fits the study’s evidence?

   1. Special Socks Make Every Walker More Efficient
   2. Small Treadmill Study Finds a Modest Average Benefit
   3. Socks Prove Walking Requires No Energy

2. What does “restricting the way it widens” explain?

   1. An effect of the tightly knitted bands
   2. A separate test on carbon dioxide
   3. The reason the study used twelve participants

Your turn

Write a cautious two-sentence summary for someone considering the socks. Include the comparison and one limit.

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Read online: https://newsbylevels.com/news/foot-stiffening-socks-walking-energy-study-november-2026/level-3/