My advice about barefoot running......beware of trends
‘Barefoot’ or minimalist running is the latest trend for runners. As a podiatrist I am asked frequently for my opinion about it being a good thing or bad.
The fact of the matter is not enough is yet known about the effects of barefoot running on caucasian feet. Some people think that barefoot running is harmful. Part of this could be for physiological reasons but part of the solution involves the runner learning to run as a barefoot runner. Podiatrists are seeing one stress fracture after another directly related to poor barefoot running technique.
Caucasian feet are different from the traditional barefoot running races normally associated with it such as the african runner, zola budd being an exception. White athletes have become used to running in a shoe, on tarmac. The African foot is much flatter, and unlike white posterior muscle compartments which tend to sit lower, the calf muscles in black athletes sits higher with longer tendon and ligamentous tissue.
Traditional barefoot runners are also ‘forefoot strikers’ meaning the initial contact phase of gait is on the ball of the foot rather than the heel. White runners tend to be heel strikers, which is completely normal for them and inconsequential when wearing a decent running shoe. The style of running is completely different and unless you change the way you run you can soon look forward to joining the thousands of others sporting injuries from barefoot running.
If you must run barefoot there are a couple of things you can do to prevent injury.
First of all, start slow and keep it short.
Run on grass only, and always try to run somewhere unlikely to have broken glass lying around.
Speak to someone who knows about barefoot/minimalist running. Take advice on footwear. Most of all remember, it is not for everyone, and everyone is not the same.
Remember that just because someone makes a picture like this...
Does not make it a scientific fact.
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