Newswise — WASHINGTON, D.C., March 16, 2018 -- In a new story for the Inside Science News Service, freelance journalist Marcus Woo explores the falling popularity of high-top basketball shoes and how researchers and other experts think the change might affect the frequency of ankle injuries. 

Read the story for free at https://tinyurl.com/yc4s87za

Inside Science is an editorially independent nonprofit journalism venture operated by the American Institute of Physics. 

In the story, "The Science of Sneakers: High-Tops vs. Low-Tops," Woo interviews experts in biomechanics, from basketball teams and shoe companies to discover the trends and the research behind the shoes and styles of today's top players. He scrutinizes the sometimes conflicting research studies that explain what makes a good sneaker and what protects players' ankles. 

As a Golden State Warriors fan, Woo has followed star guard Stephen Curry's recurring ankle injuries -- including four sprains just this season. But, Woo's story shows that according to the science, Curry's doing the right thing by taping and bracing his ankles before every game. His choice of sneaker may not be that important after all. 

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