Are Running Shoes Causing More Harm Than Good?

It is often said that all you need to go running is a good pair of sneakers. That may not be true. You will likely be far better off going barefoot, using Huarache sandals, or running in minimalist shoes like Vibram Five Fingers. Ditch the shoes and use the engineering God built into your body.

There are a ton of great resources out there on barefoot running and the problems caused with shoes. A good place to get started is Dr. Nirenberg's America's Podiatrist blog. Vibram also has its own FAQ on barefoot running, and it encourages you to start truly barefoot before upping the ante with a pair of Five Fingers. Why start barefoot instead of transitioning from classic running shoes to minimalist? Because your skin will be your limiting factor. The skin on the bottom of your feet is probably very tender. Until you build up a nice pad, not callouses, you will take it easy, which is good. It will give the muscles, bones and tendons in your feet time to build up slowly as your skin does. Concrete and asphalt are excellent surfaces to get started on. Your first barefoot run may be 100 yards or less. That's perfect! Rest for a day or so, then do it again, maybe increasing to 200 yards. Within a few weeks, you will be up to a mile, and you can grow from there.


Created by: X Ray Technician Schools