Thursday, June 4, 2009

Barefoot Running- Au Naturel or Unnatural?

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. By request, I will post an article shortly on low back pain with a few exercises you can try if you have problems with your own back.

But today I ran into this article which has an interesting take on running barefoot and the new "minimalist" campaign taken by Nike and some other footwear makers: Should-you-toss-your-running- shoes-and-just-go-barefoot?

Nike has their Nike Free shoes which are supposed to mimic the bare feet and allow the foot to adapt and strengthen as you run. The result is supposedly better biomechanics because one does not need to "rely" on footwear for support. The article even cites some runners that have noticed increased foot/leg pain with their new shoes.

Please check out my two part blog here and here, before jumping to conclusions. There is such a thing as too MUCH support when selecting a running shoe. And there is such a thing as too LITTLE support. Make sure you see a physical therapist or a podiatrist for proper footwear recommendations. I have seen many a running shoe store employee make the wrong recommendation. Only a proper biomechanical foot evaluation can give you a clear picture of the proper type of shoe for your foot.

Feel free to contact us at Elite Sports Physical Therapy at 510.656.3777 if you have any questions. Just ask to speak with a physical therapist and will guide you in the right direction!!!

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