I previously reviewed all the reviews on the scientific evidence that barefoot running is better than traditionally shod running and all the reviews I covered reached the same conclusion, that there is no evidence. Since writing that, another review of the evidence concluded the same thing and had some harsh words for all those who […]
Archive | Barefoot Running
Overload injuries in barefoot/minimal footwear running
My interpretation of the preponderance of the research on general injury rates between barefoot/minimalist vs traditionally shod runners and forefoot/midfoot vs rearfoot striking is that there is no difference in the rates. That does not mean that I will not change my mind or evolve my interpretation as more research is made available. For that […]
Barefoot vs shod running: Effects on tibia loads
One of the key reasons often suggested for transisitioning to a barefoot running technique is to reduce the impacts loads, which is only an important issue if you actually believe there is even a problem with impact loads and running. I previously reported a study that showed that tibial strain was actually greater when barefoot […]
Barefoot Running: Current state of the play
I previously wrote about the lack of evidence that supports barefoot running despite all the claims you still see appearing in the crankosphere blogosphere that there is a lot of scientific research that supports barefoot running (there isn’t). It is that lack of evidence in the context of all the claims that there is evidence […]
Tibial strain and barefoot running
Tibial strain and impacts have been getting a lot of attention lately due to all the comments about heel striking being the cause of most running injuries (its not) and this is an important reason why there should be a midfoot or forefoot strike when running. Transitioning away from a heel strike does reduce that […]
How many are doing ‘barefoot’ or ‘minimalism’ running?
I really don’t know and can find no data on the numbers. Judging by what is online there is an extraordinary presence of ‘barefoot’ and ‘minimalism’ running; there are literally 100’s of blogs, Twitter accounts, Facebook pages, books, eBooks, YouTube Videos, courses etc promoting it and talking about it everywhere you go online. “Barefoot’ and […]
Vertical Ground Reaction Forces Produced in Shod Running vs. Barefoot Running
This study turned up in my alerts this morning. It was an undergraduate project from Fort Lewis College in Colorado that has not been ‘published’, but is in poster form and was presented at School of Natural and Behavioral Science Undergraduate Research Symposium on the April 18th. Knowing what my students achieve as part of […]
What evidence is there that ‘barefoot’ running is better to reduce injury risk?
I have two options for writing this article: 1) I could just leave it blank as there is no evidence. 2) I could explain why there is no evidence. As I have commented in a number of other articles (eg the Vibram class action one) that there is no evidence that ‘barefoot’ running is any […]
Does Barefoot Running Lead to a Higher Arch of the Foot?
I am assuming that you have all seen the claims made many times in the barefoot running books, You Tube video’s, blogs and forum posts that barefoot running can increase the height of the arch of the foot due to an increase in muscle strength. Yet you never see any evidence quoted to support the […]