Regardless of the ambiguity, if the study has you vying for a flatter running shoe—or any type of new running shoe, for that matter—it’s best to take certain precautions to avoid injuries.

A new study of endurance runners reports that not knowing how your feet hit the pavement increases the likelihood of getting hurt and suggests the best shoe to reduce this risk.

You’ve probably heard the advice that running shoes are only good for about 300 to 500 miles, and after that, the cushioning is so broken down that they’re an injury waiting to happen. But ...