Have You Heard of Barefoot Running?
There’s a theory believed by scientists that those who run barefoot, or in minimal footwear, tend to avoid “heel striking”. Your natural footfall strikes the ground with the balls of the feet instead of your heels which supporters’ claim can prevent ankle and lower-leg injuries and possibly increase speed. According to science daily, barefoot runners use the architecture of the foot and leg with Newtonian physics to avoid hurtful and potentially damaging impacts.
Daniel E. Leiberman, professor of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University studied populations of runners in the United States and Kenya. The research found a significant difference between the groups. More than 75 percent of Americans who shod run (some level of modern footwear) heel-strike, experiencing a very hard collision. People who run barefoot tend to land with a springy step towards the middle or the front of the foot. Barefoot runners point their toes more at landing, avoiding this collision by decreasing the effective mass of the foot that comes to a sudden stop when you land.
Running barefoot or in minimal shoes is fun but is uses different muscles, says Lieberman. If you’ve been a heel striker, transitioning slowly is necessary to build strength in your calf and foot muscles. Lieberman’s hope is that “an evolutionary medicine approach to running and sports injury can help people run better for longer and feel better while they do it.” He wants to provide insight into how to better prevent repetitive stress injuries that afflict a high percentage of runners today.
There is evidence against this theory claiming barefoot running can put excess stress on your joints and can be harmful for people with abnormal foot shapes, such as high arches or flat feet. In these cases there is a strong need for supportive running shoes. There are running shoes called Terra Plana Vivo Barefoot shoes ($160, terraplana.com). They are puncture resistant soles that are ultrathin for running and will protect your feet. Also see Click here for info.
Note: This theory continues to be tested it is important to speak to your physician before starting a new fitness program.
For more information on barefoot running go to,
Click here for info.
-Bernadette McLoughlin
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