Study links minimalist running shoes to injuries
15/01/2014
Biomechanical studies in laboratories indicate that running barefoot, or close to it, shortens a person's stride, causing joints to flex less, said study author Dr Michael Ryan.
"Some models are really just conventional running shoes without additional stability elements, while others are so minimalist that they are essentially a 4 millimetre thick rubber glove for your feet," he said.
A third of the 99 participants were given partial-minimalist running shoes, or a full-minimalist shoe with separated toes. The final third got a traditional running shoe, for comparison. Of the 23 injuries, four were among the runners wearing traditional shoes, 12 among those wearing partial-minimalist shoes and seven in the full-minimalist shoe group. Runners using the full-minimalist shoes also reported higher rates of shin and calf pain than the other participants.
However, Dr Ryan said runners should not be discouraged from trying minimalist shoes based on his group's results.
Daniel Lieberman, author of studies comparing barefoot running to running with shoes, said: "If you switch to minimal shoes or go barefoot you need to do so gradually so your body can adapt, and you need to learn proper running form. What matters most for injury is how you run, not what is on your feet, and this study only looked at the latter."
A number of other studies on barefoot running, including one from the University of Calgary and one from the University of Colorado, have reached varying conclusions on the trend's benefits.
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