[quote]koleg wrote:
Also, there are some recent scientific studies that show that running with sport shoes (with cushion, air cushion and fancy stuffs like these) paradoxaly increase trauma in knee and hips.
I’ve readed it in a french science magazine (Science & vie - march 2010). And here are some other links:
From Harvard: http://www.barefootrunning.fas.harvard.edu/5BarefootRunning&TrainingTips.html
Another more complete article: Overcoming Gravity 2nd Edition & Progression Charts - Steven Low
Dr Romanov have talked a lot about this long time before these recent studies. Basically the human body has his natural “cushion” mechanism and act like a spring while running. It all starts from the feet, and through phsyological reflex and proprioception, and cushionned shoes just kind of “turn of” this natural mechanism, because we loose the sensitivity of the ground.
These studies show that “cushionned” shoes from the last 15 years who were made to avoid injury, actually gives more injuries to the athletes. The human body was made us this way after a long “darwin” evolution/selection, and trying to “customize” the body, thinking it will do a better job than nature, isn’t a good idea after all.
That’s why Dr.Romanov advises: you should run barefoot, or with vibram 5 fingers or at least with shoes that are as close as possible from barefoot (really thin sole, really flexible, no air cushion, no heel, no pronation correction stuffs).
Running barefoot or close to it act as a therapy for a lot of people and you may give it a try, it will definately do good to your running technique. At first you’ll think that it could hurt you, but you’ll realize that it’s a lot more easier on the body than with modern cushion sport shoes.
On the weightlifting side, maybe Christian Thibaudeau could tell you about the benefit from lifting barefoot, for squat, deadlift, and stuffs. Some people love it so much and they don’t want to lift with shoes anymore.
He may enjoy the article links I provided.[/quote]
I’ve read more than one article on this whole barefoot running thing. Here’s my take on it: it ain’t the shoes it’s the technique. If you run with a heel strike the energy travels up your leg and gets absorbed by your knees and back. Running barefoot or with minimalist shoes forces you to land midfoot or forefoot because a heel strike would just be too painful. A midfoot/forefoot landing allows the tough Achilles tendon to absorb the shock. The Achilles tendon evolved to do this. So, once you learn to run with a midfoot/forefoot strike, your choice of shoes, or lack of shoes, becomes irrelevant. Watch a video of someone running barefoot and you’ll see the difference in foot strike. Learn the Pose method or Chi Running (both are very similar, IMO) and you get the benefits of barefoot running but you can wear whatever shoe you like.
I am one example (n=1) of how a midfoot/forefoot strike is beneficial and helps to prevent injury. About two years ago I trained for and completed a half-marathon weighing close to 230 lbs. (on a side note, this also shows that aerobic exercise is not ideal for fat loss as I didn’t lose that much weight during this process, but that’s another thread) with zero knee or other joint issues. I will say that my calves were incredible sore after the half, but they recovered within a few days and it was a muscular soreness, not tendonitis or soreness that one would feel from an injury.
In sum, I’m skeptical about the whole barefoot minimalist shoe claims. You can wear whatever shoe you want provided you have the discipline to avoid heel striking.
Enjoy running! ^^