Podiatry Blog

Barefoot running is getting increasing popular. There are arguments on both sides of the fence as to if it is worth it or not and very little science to guide it. The barefoot running community do make a lot of claims about the benefits of barefoot running and the science that is supposed to underpin it, but when you look up the science it does not stack up to scrutiny. This does not mean that it does not have benefits and runners will benefit from using barefoot drills in their training routines. This has lead to an explosion in the market for barefoot running shoes which does sound a bit odd. How can you be barefoot and wear shoes? The purists barefooters do not like the concept of barefoot running shoes. These shoes are really nothing more than foot coverings and are supposed to mimic the action of the barefoot gait.

Barefoot running is a controversial topic, mainly because there is a perception in the barefoot running community that podiatrists are opposed to it. Nothing could be further from the truth. See this thread on Barefoot Running Debate on Podiatry Arena. The real problem seems to be the use and misuse of research by barefoot runners. There is even a running barefoot website that is dedicated to debunking the claims that those in the barefoot running community make. There are also issues about how the media have also interested research on barefoot running. At the end  the day there is no evidence that barefoot running is better than using running shoes. All the evidence show is that they are different. There does appear to be a lot of barefoot running injuries with claims of an epidemic of stress fractures in the Vibram Five Finger running shoe. There are even things called barefoot running shoes, which kind of doesn’t make sense, as how can you be barefoot and wear shoes at the same time. Perhaps the term minimalist running shoes is a better option. The main problem that podiatrists seem to have with the concept of barefoot running is the fanaticism and zealatry of barefoot runners and the unsupported claims that they make for it. Even the French are debating the topic: Barefoot Running