Podiatrists warn of injury risks in response to popular barefoot running shoe reviews
Barefoot running is all the rage -- but it may increase injury risk and slow down performance.
By Jay S. Berenter, DPM, FACFAS
So-called “minimalist” running shoes are all the rage these days, with athletes and authors alike touting the benefits of emulating our ancient ancestors and running au natural. But despite the many positive barefoot running shoe reviews promoted by manufacturers and advocates of the trend, recent medical studies suggest that the shoes, as well as barefoot running itself, may contribute to a variety of injuries and harmful health conditions – not to mention reduced running efficiency overall.
According to a piece in the New York Daily News, researchers at the University of Colorado have found that conventional running shoes aid athletes when it comes to energy conservation, helping them expend 3-4% less energy than barefoot runners. While this may be enough to convince some competitive runners to stick with tradition, it is also only one of the many disadvantages associated with shoeless running. Researchers have linked barefoot running shoes to an increased incidence of stress fractures, blisters, Achilles tendon injuries, puncture wounds to the soles of the feet and shin splints.
To those who argue that running barefoot increases foot and leg strength and resistance to injury, I would say it’s like telling people with poor eyesight that they should simply read more instead of getting glasses. If you already have poor foot mechanics, running barefoot or with minimalist running shoes won’t change a thing: only an alteration to your overall running style will make a difference, and most recreational runners cannot master such a dramatic change on their own. As for professional runners, they too are susceptible to the risks related to barefoot running. In an attempt to capitalize on the purported power of barefoot running, the U.S. Olympic Team actually trained barefoot prior to the Athens Olympic Games in 2004 – only to abandon the plan after members of the team sustained repeated injuries. Ultimately, very few runners have perfect mechanics – and without the proper support and cushioning in the shoe, they are likely to suffer as a result.
Expert training and orthotics advice from a renowned Southern California podiatrist
After many years working with professional athletes at the Olympic Training Center here in San Diego, I have developed a thorough understanding of runners’ needs when it comes to foot and leg support and injury prevention. Proper footwear and custom orthotics can help athletes perform optimally while maintaining safety and structural integrity. And when it comes to fitness fads, it is always wise to consult with a medical professional before risking injury based on popular trends. To learn more about safe footwear, or schedule a consultation at our San Diego office, contact us today: www.drberenter.com.
Related posts:
- Clinical trials of nail fungus laser treatment indicate high success rates for onychomycosis patients
- Miami Heat’s Dwayne Wade battles foot injury, sticks to the sidelines throughout early season
- Salon safety alert: tips to keep nails healthy and avoid fungus, infection and disease
- Laser technology yields simple, pain-free relief for fungal nails
- Women’s softball contenders bound for San Diego’s U.S. Olympic Training Center
Short URL: http://www.lajollalight.com/?p=62643
Posted by Social Media Staff
on Apr 24, 2012. Filed under Columns, Dr. Jay Berenter, Sponsored Columns.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
Of course there is no mention of the fact that there are no studies to show motion control running shoes make any difference in injury rates, either. Depending on whose data one believes 30-75% of runners are injured every year to the point where they have to stop running. That would be an epidemic in other illnesses. The simple fact is running in minimalist shoes forces a runner to run with a forefoot/midfoot impact which has 30% lower impact forces and those collision forces are over a longer period, so they are more readily absorbed. Why is it that after any injury, PT and strength is preached but in a running application, it's use more support? I too have coached elite level athletes for years and years and while I was initially skeptical, the simple fact is that the studies and the anecdotal evidence support the minimalist case. I'm not biomechanically efficient, but a minimalist shoe for the last 3 years has had me running 100% injury free. That's more than I could ever say for running shoes.
I do agree that it doesn't matter what shoes you are wearing – injury are caused by over-training muscles and improper running form. However, like littlewaywelt has said, minimalist/barefoot running is better at correcting ones running style as opposed to the typical running shoe we have seen for the past 20-25 years. Most of these injuries associated with barefoot running have to do with over-training, since a person who has just recently switched to barefoot running is using muscles they have not used before. Unlike your eye sight analogy, these muscle are just under-utilized and can perform just fine with proper training (unlike eyesight). I believe the problem is that a runner (even a professional runner) who switches to running barefoot, believes they can run the same mileage and intensity as if they were running in shoes which is 100% not the case.