Barefoot running is a hot topic for recreational runners these days & we get asked at SPACE about this frequently. A recent presentation at the American College of Sports Medicine symposium asked whether barefoot running can increase or decrease skeletal injury risk?
Link: Are we built to run barefoot?
Hans Neleman/Getty Images
Currently there have been no major studies have been completed to show whether barefoot runners are injured more or less often than those wearing standard shoes. However it is a fact that 80% of runners are still sidelined with an injury each year.
Kinematic and kinetic analyses show that even on hard surfaces, barefoot runners who fore-foot strike generate smaller collision forces than shod rear-foot strikers.
The human mechanics of running are changed quite significantly when shoes are used opposed to natural, shoeless human running where the lateral edge of the forefoot is the part which strikes the ground with the most force. Running in padded shoes typically alters this as more emphasis is placed on the heel and the area towards the back of the foot.
The official position on barefoot running by the American Podiatric Medical Association states that there is not enough research on the immediate and long term benefits of the practice, and that individuals should consult a podiatrist with a strong background in sports medicine to make an informed decision on all aspects of their running and training programs. SPACE has one of these in the excellent Andy Paul whom has consultations on a Friday afternoon in Edinburgh's West End.
Link: Are we built to run barefoot?
Hans Neleman/Getty Images
Currently there have been no major studies have been completed to show whether barefoot runners are injured more or less often than those wearing standard shoes. However it is a fact that 80% of runners are still sidelined with an injury each year.
Kinematic and kinetic analyses show that even on hard surfaces, barefoot runners who fore-foot strike generate smaller collision forces than shod rear-foot strikers.
The human mechanics of running are changed quite significantly when shoes are used opposed to natural, shoeless human running where the lateral edge of the forefoot is the part which strikes the ground with the most force. Running in padded shoes typically alters this as more emphasis is placed on the heel and the area towards the back of the foot.
The official position on barefoot running by the American Podiatric Medical Association states that there is not enough research on the immediate and long term benefits of the practice, and that individuals should consult a podiatrist with a strong background in sports medicine to make an informed decision on all aspects of their running and training programs. SPACE has one of these in the excellent Andy Paul whom has consultations on a Friday afternoon in Edinburgh's West End.
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