Evidence behind the 'barefoot running' headlines in the media - the Egg on Face Award

The best is to do run on even surface... mmmm no maybe more doing bicycle... mmmm no maybe more stationary bicycle ... mmm maybe more couch...
What's your sport David?

 

Coincidentally cycling is a huge passion of mine Blaise. I have over 30 years in various martial arts and enjoy weight training as well. I loved to run when I was young but for me there is nothing like cycling. How is that ankle healing, nothing more maddening than being sidelined I know this

 

Well but it's not 100% yet.
finish second yesterday on a small race of snow shoe (with relatively big bulky shoe)
https://www.facebook.com/LaCliniqueDuCoureur.TheRunningClinic

Happy you are barefoot without orthotics sometime (martial art).

 

Blaise don't get me wrong, I believe that some people can go barefoot, drive barefoot, sing barefoot even run barefoot and they are just fine. I am not anti-barefoot nor am I of the mind that absolutely everyone must wear shoes and/or foot orthoses (keep in mind some martial arts are actually practiced wearing shoes as well, particularly grappling; minimalist of course!).

In my case I did spend my formative years barefoot growing up near the beach and as a California native we mostly wore in flip-flops. Ankle inversion sprains and some mild arch pain were a common experience for me in the past when I went without shoes for too long. I developed a neuroma and mid-arch pain in my thirties. I also experienced a nasty case of plantar fasciitis just two years ago. In each case the only relief that I ever experienced was a pair of custom foot orthoses. Today I can go barefoot for longer periods but I am cautious because the result of extended periods of an unsupported arch (I have a high-arched, flexible foot) and the lack of biomechanical "correction" afforded me by my CFO's ends with the same results.

The point is that many people do in fact require intervention via appropriate footwear and insoles or CFO's. We know from the literature that they are effective and I just cannot get my head around the vehement dogmatic stance of many who currently promote the barefoot/minimalism trend when the same level of evidence for this trend is lacking.

I have yet to read any compelling evidence that shoes or CFO's "weaken feet" but that is the mantra of many. Do you still believe that?

Again I ask where is the SOLID evidence that barefoot/minimalism is a researched, peer-reviewed, accepted practice and treatment protocol by any medical, physical therapy etc., governing body for any foot complaint?

I know that you are performing some research or literature reviews of your own currently correct? Will what you have found hold up to scientific scrutiny? If it does not are you willing to report that as well?

On the contrary the evidence Craig supplied in this thread is now emerging more and more frequently and documenting that what this entire trend may be based on faulty reasoning. You have to admit there is a huge question mark about Lieberman's original thesis in light of this evidence?

Best regards,

 

Blaise - congrats on number 4 ... I assume you might not be around here for a while!

 

Indeed- congrats!

 

Whats "number 4".....? Im lost...

 

Craig T. told me it had something to do with "todgers" whatever that is....:

 

I kind of assumed it referred to becoming a father for the 4th time... (correct me if I am wrong)

 

baby earlier today

 

Oh well that makes much more sense - Congrats Blaise!!!!

 

Here is yet another headline: Barefoot running doesn’t guarantee strain reduction

 

Yet another headline from the New York Times:
Barefoot Running Can Cause Injuries, Too

 

Yet another headline. This one from the Huff:

'Barefoot' Running Study Links Minimalist Shoes To Foot Injuries
they certainly piling up!

 

Each headline is a nail in the "barefoot running/minimalist running is best" coffin.

 

And yet another from the Daily Mail (UK):
Beware of trendy barefoot running shoes - you could end up with broken bones in your foot

 

Kevin, let us know when the running shoe companies stop selling light weight running shoes.

 

and another:
Shoes That Replicate Being Barefoot May Be Bad For Your Bones

The fan boys have had a bad few weeks. All these accumulating negative headlines for barefoot running; the judge's ruling in the Vibram class action to not dismiss the case; and the study on bone stress injury...... I sense a disturbance in the 'force' on the barefoot forums.

 

Fast forward to the distant future. The media will finally realize that their articles on running have become repetitive, boring and no one cares. They will find some other subject to write about and beat to death in the process. Meanwhile, babies being born around the world will still come with two bare feet. Eventually, when some of those babies grow up, they will choose to run without shoes. At the same time, running shoe companies will still be developing and marketing shoes that range from ultra light or minimal all the way up to orthopedic that are able to accommodate inserted devices.

After all of this, what has really changed? The "force" is telling me the time to move on to a different subject is way past overdue. The horse is starting to decompose.

 

Barefoot running put to the test

 

Classic and from Zola Budd herself. Proof that if you say something long and loud enough you believe it whether it's true or not....and that in the end smart people will begin to investigate and call you out when it doesn't pass the smell test.....or scientific scrutiny...

 

I was at the pool with my kids today and some random guy using the gym came up and sat down next to me wearing his vibrams. Within 15 seconds he was trying to tell me how bloody great his shoes were - they looked brand new, he must have been trying to convert me! Little did he know......

Disappointed I haven't been able to lay my hands on a pair of BROOKS Trance size 13 because I can't find anyone in the country who has any left (even the tech reps), today I did the unthinkable...... After spending some time with my local shoe store and having a great time trying on nearly every shoe in the store, I finally decided to do something I have never done before! I went out on a limb....... I'm such a risk taker! I'm not advocating them in any way (yet), but it goes to show that I am willing to try new things.

I purchased a pair of Nike Lunarglides. There I said it.....NIKE Lunarglides. On initial wear they felt good mechanically on me, maybe it was just a weak moment, maybe it was fate - but I bet they don't last 2 months of my 6'4 110kg frame pounding the pavement, but what the hell - I felt like living dangerously for a bit.

New orthotics and physiotherapist on stand bye!

I know its not barefoot but hell, its as close as I have actually come! LOL Simon will also be glad to know I am warming to my ASICS GT2000's as well.....

 

Even Fox News are in on the act:
Gyms banning barefoot running

 

Has anyone on here tried or have experience of the "muscle stimulating" Mizuno Be shoes. These are the shoes mimicking ancient Samurai footwear designed to increase muscle activation within your feet, essentially marketing it as a strength and conditioning workout for your feet. The shoe is flat to the forefoot where there is a drop to the toes. I have asked Mizuno for further info on their claims that it increases muscle activation and strengthens your foot but alas they say their research is in house only! Any ideas on the efficacy of its design? Would you recommend it for any patient or purpose? Apologies if this has been posted anywhere else

 

I called them out on this on Twitter about 5 months ago (see here: http://www.runblogger.com/2012/10/mizuno-be-show-us-data.html)

Nonsense until proven otherwise in my opinion.

 

Nice one, just as I suspected!

 

The End Of The Road For Barefoot Running?

....and do not get me wrong: The research does not support the headline, but these anti-barefoot headlines are coming thick and fast, and given what Kevin reported in this thread:
Internet Interest in Vibram FiveFingers Declining at Rapid Rate

...the disturbance in the force is getting bigger

 

Give Barefoot Running the Boot?

 

No Proof That Barefoot Running Reduces Risk Of Injuries, Study Finds ..... actually the study did not really find that ... its was not even a study .... journalists!!!!!! .... it just really reiterate the point that I made in the first post about the actual evidence behind the headlines.

 

From NY Times:
Is Barefoot-Style Running Best? New Studies Cast Doubt

 

What is really amusing, is not the article, but the comments from all the die-hard barefoot-minimalist-forefoot striking know-nothing runners after the article. They seem to be the only ones that care about these things any more...all the thick soled, heel-striking runners can't be bothered with commenting on such threads, because they are happy to be running, not blogging about their new barefoot-minimalist-forefoot striking religion 1-2 hours per day.

 

Having said that Kevin, I still did have to read through the comments for entertainment purposes.
This one caught my eye:

"As a convert to Vibrams, I often run trails (up to about 7-8 miles total, not round trip, because that's where I start to lose steam). When I hurt myself it's typically because I'm tired and not paying close attention to where I step."

Doesn't sound like a great running experience in Vibrams when you have to keep your eyes fixed on the path in front of you for any small pebble that could result in a fractured 2nd met

 

I always enjoy being able to do trail runs looking at the scenery, not worrying about where each footstrike will go. These barefoot-minimalist, forefoot striking runner zealots seem to think that if they run in these thinner soled shoes, it will make them better or "more natural" runners.

Many of them will go to great lengths to remain in the Barefoot Running Club.

I think the following posting I wrote in 2010 still applies even today:

 

I might be misinterpreting what Kevin is saying here or missing his point but he seems to be using his personal experience to make generalizations about other runners. What Kevin has said couldn't be further from the experience I had on my run yesterday.

Yesterday afternoon I left work early to take advantage of the beautiful weather we are having in Colorado. I filled up my water bottles, grabbed my flashlight and went on a 42 mile trail run. 42 miles just happens to be an out and back run of 21 miles. At 21 miles the trail hits a high running river so rather than dealing with crossing it, I turned back and called it good at 42 miles.

Not once did I think about the placement of my feet other than one foot in front of me at a time and repeat, repeat, repeat..... Not once did I think about forefoot striking vs midfoot vs heel striking. As long as my feet were landing on the ground, I was good. Not once did I think about being a more natural runner. I was certainly out in nature and had the call of nature but that was about as natural as it got for me.

What shoes did I wear when I was NOT worried about the things Kevin mentioned? I was wearing what are by far the absolute best shoes for ME that I have discovered after running in countless brands and models of shoes over the past 40 years. I was wearing Vibram FiveFinger Bikila's for the run. Did I think about the claims made on the internet about them? NO. Did I think about what Vibram says about them? NO. Did I think about Sales figures? NO. Did I think about study results or surveys? NO. Did I think about what Kevin, Craig, Simon or anyone else thinks about them? NO. Do I care? NO.

None of that noise matters to me. The only thing that matters regarding MY decision to wear a particular model of shoe is what I consider the absolute best possible shoe for me for a given run. People can tell me I should be wearing this type of shoe or that type of shoe but how do they know what is best for Dana on his 42 mile trail run? With my level of experience, I've figured all of this out a long time ago.

Folks, it's time to move forward and stop worrying about who should be wearing what shoe. Some will do better in Motion Control shoes and some will do better in VFF Bikilas. I might be the only one in the world who does better running in Bikilas and that is just fine with me.

 

Good idea. You do that.

Meanwhile, as this is a forum for Podiatrists, I think it is our duty to worry about these things- particularly with so much misinformation out there...

 

Craig, do you really need to worry? Every single runner needs to go through a process of trial to find the shoe that is best for them. That process has never changed, regardless of what has been written. A runner can not find the shoe that works the best for them by reading about it. Information or misinformation will only influence the starting point. Ultimately it is up the the runner with experience on the road or trail with various models of shoes that will help the runner determine the right shoe. The process can be a lot of fun and highly rewarding when the runner discovers that "perfect" shoe.

For those who aren't fortunate enough to find the right shoe, possibly develop problems or injury that stem from running, then it might be time to try fitting them with orthotics and stability shoes.

In the end, the runner will either figure it out or they will be in your office for help. "Don't worry, be happy."

In one of many brilliant vintage marketing ads by Nike, Spike Lee repeatedly says to Michael Jordan, "it's gotta be the shoes!"

Have a great weekend and have fun.

 

Interesting thread, below are my clinical observations:

In my practice I have found that:

1. The more technology (e.g., bulky maximalist shoes) built into the shoe, the more difficult (if not impossible) to change the patterns of STJ motion (e.g., the timing of pronation/supination during stance phase of gait).

2. The less technology built into the shoe, the easier it is to change the pattern of pronation/supination during stance phase of gait.

To some practitioners, this may be of no interest, but to me it is critical. That is why I am a strong advocate of using shoes (whether for running, walking, standing) that are biomechincally neutral (e.g., as little technology as possible built into the shoe).

Blaise, I found your comments and observations on minimalist shoes insightful and enlightening. Thank you for taking your time to delineate your views on this forum.

Prof Brian

 

Oh, how the media have changed their spin on barefoot:
Ready to ditch the running shoes? Tread carefully

Full story

"Evidence is still shaky" ... remember all those headlines about all the evidence that said is was better?

And then we had this about one minimalist runner who finally came to the realization what we have been saying all along:

 

oh how the headlines have changed and come full circle:

Running Barefoot Hits a Pothole