Tuesday, September 20, 2011

To Run Barefoot Or Not: That Is The Question!

The newest way to run seems to be without our shoes.  There are articles published touting the fact that all sneaker companies are redesigning their shoes to give the runner an experience closer to running barefoot.

You use your foot differently when you run without shoes and that alone takes an adjustment.  

Many months ago on TV we saw Luke Russet walking in those shoes which look like gloves for the feet.  Now you can find those "shoes" on people in place of their regular footwear.

From the Vibram FiveFingers website, www.vibramfivefingers.com:

Our revolutionary design makes feet healthier by allowing them to move more naturally and freely.
The typical human foot is an anatomical marvel of evolution with 26 bones, 33 joints, 20 muscles and hundreds of sensory receptors, tendons and ligaments. Like the rest of the body, to keep our feet healthy, they need to be stimulated and exercised.


I came across this article by Dr. Andrew Weil which offers insight to the debate as well as a link to a website from Harvard University, discussing this subject.

Thought it made good reading: 


http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400991/Better-to-Run-Barefoot.html

I do think that we need to be selective on what is on or not on our feet.  I cannot imagine walking barefoot in NYC, yet the beach would work although you could cut your foot on a cracked shell.

I myself have yet not tried these shoes, but when I do, I will be happy to review them.
 
No matter what we are wearing on our feet, the most important thing is that we are moving!

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