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Thesis:
Can a comprehensive transition plan to barefoot running be the solution to the injury epidemic in American endurance runners? (large PDF file)

 

File under Questions To Which The Answer Is No.

 

I believe
that this approach will restore strength and elasticity to muscles and tendons that have been
inhibited by lifelong usage of overconstructed shoes and adequately prepare runners for the
increased demand brought on by a changing running mechanic.

What do you mean by an "overconstructed shoe"?
Shoes (while they may add to orthotic influence) are just an outer protective covering. The damage comes from repetition of the inefficient lever arm efficiency thus producing "tissue stress"--this also produces inefficient ROM--healing takes place and may become stronger but still vulnerable to additional increase in repetition of the mechanical operation. Instead of theories and conjecture of all these issues, we need to look at the mechanical efficiency of the intrinsic mechanics of biomechanics. It's mechanical--not biological.

 

That thesis is a really sloppy piece of work.
Cherry picked; ignored references that refuted what they were arguing. The actual evidence is the opposite what they are trying to argue.