運動鞋在運動文化中是運動器物的一大代表性產物；但透過運動的商業化，運動鞋同時也成為應用許多運動科技及行銷手法而生產製造的工商業產品。本研究首先對運動鞋不同的定義作說明，使暸解運動鞋以不同詞彙出現其所代表的意義，再從運動鞋的起源、發明及發展作介紹，使瞭解運動鞋的歷史背景及發展過程，其次試圖將運動鞋產業與臺灣的連結作歷史回顧並對未來作展望，最後透過不同的觀點來視察運動鞋現今存在的意義與價值。本研究透過文獻分析的方法對運動鞋的歷史、發展、意義作探討以達到一、宣傳臺灣運動製鞋產業的技術，二、拓展運動領域新視野及三、希望體育學術領域能在不斷強調運動科學應用的同時，亦應更重視運動文化、人文領域等目的。

Athletic footwear has been one representative product of the sports implements in the sports culture. Through the commercialization of sports, athletic footwear at the same time has been produced as industrial products which apply sports technology and marketing strategy. This investigation first elaborates on the different definitions of athletic footwear, making readers understand the meanings presented by different synonyms of athletic footwear. Followed by the introduction of athletic footwear's origin, invention and development, readers can know the historical background and the development process of athletic footwear. Next, the investigation tries to retrospect the connection between the athletic footwear industry and Taiwan, and look into the future as well. Last, it examines athletic footwear's present existent meaning and value through different viewpoints. This investigation hopes that through the discussion on the history, development and meaning of athletic footwear, it can achieve the goal to advertise the technology of Taiwanese athletic footwear industry, to broaden the horizon of sports domain, and to pay more attention to the sports culture and humane domain while the physical education domain keeps putting emphasis on sports science application.