This is about as little a shoe as I would want to ever wear.
Posted on 06/09/2006 9:35:41 AM PDT by Sam Cree
Is Barefoot Better? Some Athletes Say Running Shoeless Benefits Body and Sole June 6, 2006; Page D1
Runners and athletes are always searching for the perfect shoe to improve performance and reduce injury. But some say shoes are the problem, and the best solution may be training without them.
Some experts now believe that most athletic shoes, with their inflexible soles, structured sides and super-cushioned inserts keep feet so restricted that they may actually be making your feet lazy, weak and more prone to injury. As a result, barefoot training is gaining more attention among coaches, personal trainers and runners.
While exercising without shoes may sound painful, the idea is that your feet need a workout, too. Proponents believe running barefoot changes a runner's form and body mechanics to prevent some common athletic injuries.
Although a few coaches and marathon runners have preached the value of barefoot training, the method has received more attention lately because shoe giant Nike is promoting its Nike Free shoe, which it claims mimics the sensation of running barefoot. Popular training methods aimed at improving running form, including the Pose Method (www.posetech.com) and ChiRunning (www.chirunning.com), also are prompting runners to consider minimalist foot gear or none at all as a way to allow their natural body mechanics to take over.
It isn't just runners who are going barefoot. One new fitness trend, a dance-inspired workout called Balletone (www.balletone.com), places heavy emphasis on foot strengthening and flexibility, something that is essential to dancers. Boulder, Colo., fitness educator Shannon Griffiths-Fable says her chiropractor encouraged her to try barefoot training, and she has also seen a difference in clients who take part in Balletone classes. "I've noticed just how fatigued people's feet get," she says. "They haven't used their feet and they don't know how to support themselves while exercising."
But barefoot training remains controversial. Many podiatrists cringe at the notion of unshod feet pounding the pavement, where the risks include cuts, bruises and unsanitary conditions. "If we want to mimic barefoot running, shoes should come with broken glass and twigs," says Stephen M. Pribut, a Washington, D.C., podiatrist and president of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine. "The emphasis should be on getting the right shoe for your foot."
While doctors also worry barefoot running can lead to injuries, proponents say barefoot training helps correct form and reduces foot, shin and muscle injuries.
Someone considering barefoot training should be careful. Doctors strongly discourage it for patients with diabetes, because a foot wound can lead to serious complications. Athletes with foot pain or injuries should consult with a sports-medicine expert, trainer or physical therapist before shedding their shoes. Even proponents of barefoot training say you should start slowly. Runners can start on grass, a clean sidewalk or a rubberized track. Be careful not to overdo it and give feet and muscles time to adapt. If you aren't willing to give up shoes while running on streets and trails, you might consider switching to a more flexible shoe or one with less padding if you like the way barefoot training feels. Yoga, pilates or group fitness classes that allow you to exercise while barefoot are also options. [Salt Lake] Runner Brett Williams ran the Salt Lake City marathon, his first-ever marathon, while barefoot.
Advocates of barefoot training swear by it, claiming that ditching their shoes has improved the running experience and solved injury problems. Four months ago, 29-year-old Salt Lake City runner Brett Williams was on the verge of buying the Nike Airmax 360, a $160 shoe. In researching the shoe, he stumbled across www.runningbarefoot.org, which has become the Web-based bible for barefoot runners. "I decided I'd had enough and went barefoot," says Mr. Williams, who on Saturday ran the Salt Lake City marathon, his first marathon, while barefoot. Mr. Williams says he enjoys running more now, and suffered only a minor scrape during the race that was less painful than the blisters that often develop on the feet of shod runners. "Your connection with the ground beneath your feet is absolutely lost with shoes on," says Mr. Williams. "I am utterly convinced your feet don't need support or cushioning. If they do it's because you're not running correctly."
There isn't a lot of scientific study on barefoot training. Research has shown that wearing shoes to exercise takes more energy, and that barefoot runners use about 4% less oxygen than shod runners. Other studies suggest barefoot athletes naturally compensate for the lack of cushioning and land more softly than runners in shoes, putting less shock and strain on the rest of the body. Barefoot runners also tend to land in the middle of their foot, which can improve running form and reduce injury.
One series of studies from Canadian researchers concluded that heavily cushioned shoes were more likely to cause injury than simpler shoes. They also concluded that more expensive athletic shoes accounted for twice as many injuries as cheaper shoes. The data aren't conclusive. It may be that buyers of expensive shoes are more injury prone or more active, and therefore more likely to sustain injuries. A summary of the data on barefoot training can be found at www.sportsci.org/jour/0103/mw.htm.
Dr. Pribut says he would like patients to seek out more appropriate athletic shoes, and gives advice on how to do this at www.drpribut.com/sports/spshoe.html. He notes that some athletes who go barefoot or give up structured shoes risk injuring themselves further.
Although barefoot runners say their feet become conditioned to running on pavement, some are choosing minimalist footwear to protect the feet without impeding the barefoot experience. A quirky foot-glove called the Vibram FiveFingers (www.vibramfivefingers.com) developed to keep sailors from slipping on their boats is one option. A toe-less nylon band used by dancers (www.dancepaws.com) also helps protect feet of barefoot trainers without the structure of a shoe.
:) I am barefoot most of the time and am passing that tendency on to my three kids, much to the consternation of my husband and father-in-law.
I used to love running barefoot at the beach. And walking/running barefoot in the grass is nice as well.
Could it be that our feet are made to run/walk, that shoes don't make it better?
I could see a company making a kevlar-type sock covering that would protect from actual punctures but allow the foot free movement like being barefoot.
Right up until she caught that spike.
Time to short NKE
I run. These guys are idiots.
This is about as little a shoe as I would want to ever wear.
LOL!!! I hated shoes when I was little! I would immediately pull my socks and shoes off. My grandpa used to call me "the little hillbilly". ;-)
Sucked for Mary Decker too.
I'm 53 and have run all my life. I always use cheap sneakers, without all the padding and support (usually the $8 - $14 WalMart specials), and have never had any foot problems - arches still high and ankles are strong.
Something about that pictures is so disturbing.
I agree with you. People who buy more expensive running shoes usually run more miles...or lots of miles. When running lots of miles, the smallest discomfort or anatomical problem becomes magnified. The obvious example of this is chafing. Shoes, shorts, shirts can work fine for a two mile run, but for say 14 miles or more in July....it can be a different story.
You got that straight - I don't think I've ever run unless someone was chasing me.
Now,, now, let's not blanket judge. :O)
I'm a great grandmother and I am sitting here, in the afternoon, without yet donning any foot-gear.
Often, I will be halfway to town and have to turn and drive back home because I forgot to put on shoes.
To me, shoes are merely things to protect your feet when you are going to be walking on man-made surfaces or in areas where man litters - or to keep feet from freezing.
Otherwise, it's barefoot for me - has been all my life. Many folk, including doctors, have warned me that it will make me flatfooted. My arch is still so high that I can't comfortably wear shoes with laced fronts.
In addition, going barefoot allows the natural pressure points in your feet to be exercises -good for your health.
But the shoes I do wear, my criteria - one that my kids and grandkids follow - is that they must be of natural materials - like leather (for breathing) and ultra flexible for a more natural step.
I really don't think man will improve on God's design any time soon...
runner ping.
what are these "nike" things? never worn them. i wear doc martens 99% of the time i'm in shoes. never found another shoe more comfortable. they might cost more, but i've only bought 6 pair in the last 12 years. still own and wear all but one pair. they're even really comfortable to play street basketball in.
I am in total agreement with you. The minute I hit the door after work the second thing I do is take off my shoes and socks (I try to avoid socks at all costs, but winters are just too cold not to wear them). I go barefoot as much as I can.
The best shoes I have my Redhead hiking boots from Bass Pro Shop. I can step in water or snow and they stay nice and dry, yet my feet don't sweat in them. I can walk around in them all day and they aren't heavy. I only wear them for hiking, but they are awesome.
Now, if we could get Bass to make high heels, we might be on to something....
When I was babysitting this one baby/toddler, her mom would dress her in a new outfit every day and of course she had to have shoes to match. She'd walk around with shoes on as long as mom was there, but the minute mom walked out the door she would hold her foot up for me to take her shoes off. Smart kid.
Mine come off the before I start the car engine to head home. They don't go back on until I arrive at my destination and cut the engine. There's more shoes in the car than in the closet.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.