Posted on 01/30/2010 8:35:53 AM PST by La Lydia
Biologist and runner Daniel Lieberman had a simple question: "How did people run without shoes?" The answer he got is: Much better. At least running barefoot seems better for the feet, producing far less impact stress compared to feet shod in fancy, expensive running shoes, according to a study by Lieberman in the journal Nature. The study concludes that people seem to be born to run — barefoot.
The research was funded in part by a company that makes running shoes that try to mimic barefoot running. But Lieberman, who disclosed the grant, said the company...didn't influence the outcome.
People who grew up running barefoot — such as boys in Kenya's Rift Valley, which is known for endurance running champs — tend to land mostly on the front or middle of the foot when they touch ground. And when these runners do use shoes, they continue to run in that way.
People who have always worn cushioned running shoes usually hit the ground heel first. The difference in the way the foot strikes the ground is important. Lieberman's study examined the physical stresses on feet with different types of running and found that people with running shoes strike the ground with the mass of the entire leg, nearly 7 percent of the body. That's more than three times the weight of impact for barefoot running.
"It's really about how you hit the ground," said Lieberman, who specializes in human evolutionary biology. "When you hit the ground, some of your body comes to a dead stop."
For runners in cushioned shoes, "it is literally like someone hitting you on the heel with a hammer," Lieberman said. But, he said that "the way in which barefoot runners run is more or less collision free."...
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Swimming is very hard on the hair. It’s the chlorine. I can only do it about once a week.
You get that extra toe grip when barefoot.
An important consideration is that what foot protection, if any, that is needed for the feet when running, is *different* than what is needed when walking. This is because the forces and strains on the feet, legs and back are quite different.
Long an interest of the military, the old leather combat boot was rated as superior for walking, and far better than civilian oriented boots. But it was awful for running in, and many soldiers had ruinous physical damage from frequently running in them, so now the military has them change into sneakers before runs.
As kids didn’t we instinctually know this? Can I treadmill barefoot now?!
Shedding clothes helps as well
More like these: http://www.swimoutlet.com/product_p/9008.htm
Although I usually find them for about $5 a pair.
See #27
Barefoot ping.
Best book on running...Running for Life. It has been saying this since it was written. Keeps your knees and hips healthy and allows people to run into their 90’s. Seriously!
Fortunately (or unfortunately actually) that's no longer an issue for me. lol
Go running barefoot out in the desert where I run. You’ll either cut your feet to pieces, or have callouses 3 inches thick.
People are free to lengthen their stride if they have running shoes on. That creates more stress. Cut back the stride, with out without shoes, and there is less stress.
All that impact means wasted energy too.
“Chi Running” by Danny Dreyer is another great book that keeps people running long distances into old age without injury.
This study pretty much backs up what “Chi Running” is all about. Part of the proper form in Chi running is a foot strike not on the heel, but on the ball of the foot.
http://www.chirunning.com/shop/home.php
Do the people behind you ever trip over your clothes?
We ran barefoot all summer long and whenever else we could. My feet are fine and so are my family’s feet. It’s good for you.
Thanks
a guy at the gym had something similar but with toes. Not just tabis actual toes.
My hairdressers’ pre-swimming suggestion: wet your hair and apply conditioner before putting on your cap. Any cheap conditioner will do. Really works for me.
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