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« About QUICKSWOOD | Main | Form and Function »

August 22, 2006

Comments

David Sypniewski

Dear Joseph et al,

I have been a barefoot runner for 7+ years. The past 4 years I've been occupied with thinking how I can bring natural barefoot running to the masses (okay, at least us runners). Barefoot is best, period, but if you must wear shoes, wear these ones (not yet released). I invite everyone in joining what I have named the BarefootProject. If you're interested in participating to shape the final design. I'll share this: This will not be a traditional shoe in any way. No midsole (read: no cushioning/arch support), no "technology", only the softest leather, minimal design and wide forefoot. Joseph, sent me a note, I'd like to chat. Regards, David. https://www.FormeFootwear.com

Natalie

Just as the running shoe industry has something to hide by marketing gizmos in shoes that don't really help our feet, orthopedic surgeons have something to gain by encouraging the populace to strap into minimalist training shoes and hit the pavement: You will get more patients needing treatment in the short term while their feet adapt, so you can make loads of money and retire early. The reason running injuries are increasing is runners in increasing numbers are running more miles with greater intensity on harder surfaces than ever before. The fitness craze makes people not know when to take it easy or get off the pavement. I agree that some shoes are too controlling, and at the expense of our natural footstrike. However, don't paint the shoe companies as evil and money-seeking and orthopedic surgeons as noble champions of the oppressed, who merely want to help people rather than make a lucrative living off running injuries.

Craig Richards

I have recently co-authored a systematic review on this topic in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. See https://bjsm.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/bjsm.2008.046680v1 to view the abstract.

Sean

I've just ditched my orthotics after 10 years. A vendor introduced them to me at the '98 Columbus Marathon. I wore them soon after and I don't know if they helped prevent any injuries. But I do think they caused an adjustment to my running gait over time and brought on the ischial tendonosis that I'm just shaking off. I will continue to run in my Nike Air Max Moto's but without the PowerSteps or Superfeet inserts.

Chris Colenso-Dunne

Regarding the ASICS acronym, "animus sanus in corpore sano" does not mean "a sound mind in a sound body": strictly, it means "a sound SOUL in a sound body".

It seems likely that ASICS contrived their neo-Latin acronym from an adaptation of Juvenal's well-known phrase "MENS SANA in corpore sano": which does mean "a sound mind in a sound body".

NB, Juvenal's full line (from his tenth satire) reads "Orandum est ut sit mens sana in corpore sano": "one ought to pray for a sound mind in a sound body". It is in part his answer to his own question - for what should humans supplicate the Gods?

Craig Richards

What a great article!

I think the other evolutionary problem with running shoe design is the failure to test real world outcomes.

I have always been frustrated that even Steven Robbins did not go on to test the predictions of his fantastic work in clinical trials.

Biomechanical studies can tell us how a shoe changes the way we move, but they cannot tell us how this tranlates into injury risk or a change in performance.

I wonder if the lack of clinical data is one the reasons that the shoe manufactiurers have successfully ignored Steven's work for so long.

I am planning a major randomised controlled trial to measure injury rates and performance of runners wearing running shoes of different constructions. Ideally this will include a comparison of standard heel strike running shoes (eg ASICS Kayano), older variants such as the Dunlop Volley and KT-26, as well as 'barefoot' and midfoot strike running shoes.

It will be a major undertaking but is well overdue. If anyone would like to get involved by providing funding, expertise or you would like your company's shoes included in the trial, please get in touch- [email protected]

Tom Sheehan

These shoes may interest some readers:

https://www.vitruvianrunning.com/home.html

I have been using them for a while now.

Peter

Thanks for the very interesting article. I had abrupt plantar pain about 7 years ago. I have recently restarted running using Nike free and lots of calve stretching.

I am curious at the whether you think the benefits are from thinner soles (and thus less impact) or from greater flexibility? I seem to find that I have painful feet after a day in stiff shoes, while flexible shoes always do better? So flexible, or thin soles, (or both)?

regards

Peter - UK

Ivan

Hello, Best Site

Idetrorce

very interesting, but I don't agree with you
Idetrorce

Odetta

So comfortable running shoes I have seen at Dick'sSportingGoods store through CouponAlbum site with many coupons....

Dog training

Very interesting... as always! Cheers from -Switzerland-.

zent

NICE ARTICLE!!!

I believe I'm 15-20 lbs over my ideal weight, and that could be the reason of my high tech shoes hunt

I agree that the body has to be trained to make the right movements, and going barefoot (not over concrete!) can allow to use more minor muscles to gain long term strength and control than using high tech ultra-cushioned gear.

I hate throwing my money away, and after buying my first running cushioned shoes (ASICS Nimbus 9 $125) my metatarsal pain IS still there, as well as the pain on knees and ankles. I am afraid to get an evem more cushioned shoes as I see it as unnatural movements, and loose even more control.

Regarding the third world and the correlation running injuries, due to economic issues, people in the third world don't have time to go running as a hobbie, nor push themselves to go to the Olympics or such, therefore expect less injuries, besides the fact that they don't have a log of injuries and can't afford to go to the doctor, forget MRI's and such.

Maintaining a good weight, will certainly allow you to find the control needed in order to make the right movements and achieve heath, without the excessive need for cushions.

Yanni Papastavrou

Excellent article - I gradually transitioned to running barefoot after having chronic ITB injuries that limited my training to less than 20 miles per week and caused me much pain.
After a gradual transition in 2004 that took perhaps 6 months, I was able to run as far as 50 miles per week with no sign of injuries. No injuries since then after running thousands of miles, many races and a marathon. I agree that running on soft surfaces is a bad idea: I run mostly on pavements on city streets. Many thanks for a most informative article!
Yanni
London,
UK.

Gerry L

If you believe that 2 out of ever 3 runners get injured every year you're nuts. This article takes a good idea/theory, that running/walkign around barefoot OCCASIONALLY to strengthen/stabilize is a good thing, and turned it into an all out assault on the running shoe industry. Too extreme, and I've run in Brooks & Nike cushioned neutral trainers for 20 years without injury. Often in the 60-70 mi a week range. Theres no way you'll convince me that I should be or COULD be doing that Barefoot....

Joseph Froncioni

Marti's study sort of did that if you assume that there is a correlation between "enhancement" and price.

nilah

how about a comparison between a more enhanced shoe and a inferior one?

Joseph Froncioni

Melissa,
There is increasing evidence that pre-exercise stretching, once thought to decrease injuries and improve performance, does neither of these. In fact, some studies show that increased flexibility may actually lead to increased risk of injury. A short article on this new evidence can be found at https://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/stretching-performance-and-injury-prevention .
I'm curious to hear what the PE teacher and the physiotherapist have to say after they read the article; along with running shoe salesmen, PE teachers and physiotherapists are the least likely to accept any paradigm shift when it comes to "their" field of expertise.
Oh...and tell your daughter she can keep the Payless shoes as they're every bit as good as the Nikes.

Melissa Burlison

My 13 year old daughter had a achilles injury last June in school. Her PE teacher told them to run without instructing the students to first stretch. The first part of the run was downhill and this is where the injury happened. At the time, she was wearing cheap slip on tennis shoes (no lace kind) from Payless (even though she had Nike's in her locker which she didn't change into!) Her PT advises us to buy expensive New Balance shoes with plenty of cushioning and arch support. After reading this article, I don't know what to do! I am going to pass this on to the PT. Any comments from anyone would be appreciated!

He Who Runs with the Squirrels

I just visited my physical therapist, who happens to be a former world-champion in the marathon. I have a leg length discrepancy, and he feels occasionally running barefoot will harm, rather than help my circumstances, because I can't compensate for the leg length discrepancy (1 centimeter by x-ray) without confusing the body. Additionally, after having run for the last month in flats and occasionally barefoot, I get the idea forefoot running is best.

He disagreed, showing me a picture of the human anatomy and the giant bone of the heel. He asked why we would have such a prominent heel and fat deposits there if we weren't supposed to be mid-foot strikers to heel strikers, naturally.

I couldn't come up with a good answer, only thinking that the fat came about AFTER we started wearing the shoes...i.e. we're looking at an anatomy that's been changed by our lifestyles.

Any thoughts to all of the above (in particular, how do I accomodate for the leg length so I can keep up the fun barefoot work without confusing my shod running too?)

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Gerry

There are running shoes on the market with a wave spring embedded in the heel and ball area and it's been getting publicity lately. Most recently a couple of rabbits were wearing them in the Boston Marathon and other marathon runners wore them in winning races in Ottawa and Fort Worth. They are the Spira Stingers. The Spira Footwear Co has a line that I wonder if is worth trying or is just a lot of hype with the tenor of the article of less cushioning is better. Any pertinent comments from knowledgeable people on this?

Tobias

Great article, both thorough and entertaining, I enjoyed it a lot!

Have you considered sending it to the Society for Barefoot Living (www.barefooters.org)? I'm sure it would be a very welcome addition to the collection of articles on their website - or at least they could link to your blog.

Joseph Froncioni

Jim,

It certainly would. Walking is man's default mode of ambulation, running being reserved for the "flight" moments in our existence. We walked out of Africa 50,000 years ago and kept going till we had reached all four corners of the globe so we're pretty well designed for it.

Jim

Would this also apply to brisk(13 minute miles) walking?

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