running shoes V barefoot

[Scott]

I know we had a topic about running shoes but I couldnt find it (after a 10 second look!)

Are we, as human beings not better built to be running barefoot?
IF there are no underlying problems with your feet which might need extra correcting or support AND you are not running on manmade surfaces such as tarmac ect?

Have humans not been running for thousands and thousands of years in barefeet rather than the lastest pair of nikes.
even runners back in the 70's and shit would choose footwear based on how light it was rather than what support / suspension it gave.

or is that rubbish and we actually need the proper footwear before we step outside to run cross country?

[Oughtboy]

well my left foot is 1/2 size shorter than my right, and my left leg is just under an inch shorter than my right leg, after getting sore hips from running, i went and saw a leg/foot specialist, we did all theses tests, walking with shoes on a treadmill, then without shoes, then the standing test to see weight distribution etc. After all that i was given orthotics for my work boots, but was told not to run on hard surfaces at all, as they couldnt get me the proper support for me, but treadmills are apparently not hard surfaces because they cushion some of the blow. He told me just to use normal running style shoes when i did run though.

i always feel more comfortable in a pair of thongs or barefoot than in "supportive" footwear.

[HairyGaul]

Less is more in this case. The gist of the research on the topic is this: The human foot was not designed for shoes. There is a natural stability/feedback system for walking and running without shoes. The more padding, stability, air cushionioning, and other high-tech doodads there are on your shoes, the more that feedback system is compromised or even bypassed altogether. The result is poor running form and more foot injuries including, ankle strains/sprains, achilles tendon tears, and plantar fasciitis as well as knee/hip problems.

Experiment and find out what works for you. There are barefoot running enthusiasts who do marathons in barefeet (on tarmac roads!)and that's probably not for everyone but there are options. Wrestling shoes and water shoes let your foot flex well but put something between you and the ground. Nike makes some shoes they say are 'next to barefoot', the Nike Free and Nike Zoom I think. Vibram makes a foot 'glove' where your toes are free to move and grip. And of course there's always the good ol' Chuck Taylor.

[Scott]

yeak, I tend to use the ol chuck taylors myself.
had a bit of an argument the other night about running shoes with someone who probably has never run anywhere for a looooong time.
I like a pair of those foot glove things they look well cool!
might give the old barefoot running a try.

[jamesy101]

I'm a huge fan of barefoot, it's just a lot more comfortable for me. One thing I do notice though is the problem with hardened soles peeling off and forming blisters easily. If it hurts at first just walk on gravel or have a kick about with no shoes on to harden then up a little.

[samurai69]

i think with barefoot running it does depend on the surfaces

i run barefoot on beaches and dunes near me (when i ran)

tarmac is kinder than concrete


i do walk along the sea front barefoot.............but have to watch out for gob, shit, stones, glass etc etc


the foot glove type shoes are good, but i notice most people that run along the sea wall barefoot run very heavily
better for sprints etc

dust, like african plains is not bad as there is some give


.

[Scott]

i think with barefoot running it does depend on the surfaces

i run barefoot on beaches and dunes near me (when i ran)

tarmac is kinder than concrete


i do walk along the sea front barefoot.............but have to watch out for gob, shit, stones, glass etc etc


the foot glove type shoes are good, but i notice most people that run along the sea wall barefoot run very heavily
better for sprints etc

dust, like african plains is not bad as there is some give


.

yeah, thats a problem in a lot of places.

I was reading some stuff on barefoot running which talked about the need to probably alter how you run a bit if you are use to running in shoes. mentioned a smaller stride and not being so heavy on the heel and trying to land more on the front of the foot, probably much like a sprint.

[samurai69]

yeh forefoot, not as on the toes but not on the hell


.

[HairyGaul]

The barefoot stride feels weird at first because you do not heel strike. I used to try to run faster by lengthening my stride which only made me heel strike harder and kill my knees. Concentrate on getting the forefoot strike and speed will come but it comes from increased turnover (more strides instead of longer ones). It's pretty natural so it's fairly easy to (re)learn. It's made running alot more enjoyable for me.

P.S. I wear wrestling shoes when I run. A couple months ago I did a six mile mud run with my wife. About 80% trails/hardpack dirt, 20% tarmac and concrete. More than one runner stared at my shoes in disbelief and some laughed openly at me but after six miles at a good pace I had no blisters, no sore feet, and no knee or hip pain even with some hard suface running. Jus sayin.

[Cookie]

Footwear Alters Normal Form And Function Of The Foot

A habitually shod lifestyle has consequences for the biologically normal anatomy and function of the foot.

Kristiaan D’Aout and Peter Aerts from the Biology Department at the University of Antwerp collaborated for their work on the biomechanics of barefoot walking with Dirk De Clercq (University of Gent, Belgium) and with Todd Pataky (University of Liverpool, UK).
This team made the first detailed analysis of foot function in people who have never worn shoes. For this project, they travelled to South India, where many people walk barefoot throughout life, mostly for spiritual or financial reasons.

In this way, the researchers wanted to gain an insight into the biologically normal function of the foot, which evolved for millions of years - unshod.
The research was funded by the Fund for Scientific Research – Flanders, and was based on dynamic measurements of pressure distribution under to foot sole during walking. It showed that he foot of habitual barefoot walkers differs, both in shape and in function, from that of habitually shod peers.

Barefooters have a relatively wide forefoot and manage at better distributing pressures over the entire surface of the foot sole, resulting in lower (and most likely favourable) peak pressures. As such, the fundamental scientific results are also important for clinicians and for the design of quality footwear, which should not hamper the foot’s biologically normal function.

[Scott]

I should print all this stuff off and shove it in her face.

[jamesy101]

If you fancy a read this was the article I mentioned in the previous thread, makes for a pretty interesting read:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive ... money.html