From time to time, we have discussed minimal or barefoot running shoes and I thought this recent blog and Science Times article was interesting. Apparently, some people who use the shoes for as little as 1 mile a week experience problems w/ their feet. YMMV?

[well.blogs.nytimes.com]

I, for one, love them and am about to buy my 3rd pair in 3 years.

I wonder how closely those runners were monitored. I haven't taken up minimal/barefoot running, but I've been looking into the concept as perhaps a way to mitigate my morton's neuroma. What most of the barefoot running guides say is that you've got to relearn how to run and switch from heel strike running (standard for regular running shoes) to midfoot strike running. If the runners just switched shoes and didn't change their gait then I can see why they suffered trauma.

In addition, after a lifetime of wearing shoes that have deformed our feet into a rather unnatural morphology, I would guess that it should take many months if not years to get your foot anatomy to alter enough to be able to adapt completely to a barefoot lifestyle.

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"In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion." (1987) -- Carl Sagan



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/2013 01:01PM by davester.

My experience is that I just naturally switch to the midfoot strike when I wear my vibrams.

10 week period does not sound long enough to measure anything, by a long shot. A much longer term study would be needed to really determine if their injuries were decreasing or increasing. Sounds like those w/evidence of problems should just be transitioning far slower.

Minimal shoes even make my walking stride a little different, and after 8+ months -everyday, exclusively- in Nike Free's (which are about the least minimal of the minimal soles, they have a bit more cushion underfoot) I still find myself often seeking the added comfort of the grass, off the pavement.

I do think wearing them have helped me meet the goal I set- my feet and ankles seem back to their old stable/strong selves. And I fully expect to have fewer problems down the line as a result.

My advice to anyone considering the switch: Baby steps.

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davester
I wonder how closely those runners were monitored. I haven't taken up minimal/barefoot running, but I've been looking into the concept as perhaps a way to mitigate my morton's neuroma. What most of the barefoot running guides say is that you've got to relearn how to run and switch from heel strike running (standard for regular running shoes) to midfoot strike running. If the runners just switched shoes and didn't change their gait then I can see why they suffered trauma.

In addition, after a lifetime of wearing shoes that have deformed our feet into a rather unnatural morphology, I would guess that it should take many months if not years to get your foot anatomy to alter enough to be able to adapt completely to a barefoot lifestyle.

Just looked up Morton's Neuroma. That ain't cool.

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vision63
Just looked up Morton's Neuroma. That ain't cool.

...and that's an understatement, especially for someone whose main recreational activities are soccer, bicycling and hiking!

---

"In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion." (1987) -- Carl Sagan