Barefoot shoes: for or against?

Emerging trend, the minimalist race has more and more followers. Still, caution is needed. One study shows that Vibram FiveFingers shoes, which mimic natural running barefoot, can increase the risk of foot injuries to the runner's foot.

Increased risk of injury?

Even if the fans of the natural race, known as barefoot, will laugh at this news, an advance study, evidence to support it, that the people who pass running shoes traditional to those of natural race must take their time not to to hurt yourself.

Research, to be published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, was conducted by US scientists on two groups of Sunday runners. The first group continued to train with traditional running shoes, while the second group went to Vibram FiveFingers. The FiveFingers group followed the manufacturer's advice to transition to new shoes over 10 weeks, starting with a two or three kilometer run the first week and gradually increasing distances.

The researchers made MRIs of the feet of the runners before and after the test period. The Runner's World site echoes these results and notes that although there was no difference in tissue, the bones did not come out unscathed.

MRIs noted edema in the spinal cord, which is nothing but an excessive amount of fluid in the spinal cord, an indicator of injury. The results were final: 10 out of the 19 runners in the Vibram group had developed a foot injury, compared to only one out of 17 runners in the other group. In addition, two of the 10 injured riders developed a fatigue fracture.

A long transition to the natural race

For people who want to go for natural running or Vibram FiveFingers, however, researchers recommend a transition over 10 weeks.

Specialists in the field urge you to keep your traditional shoes overweight or suffering from orthopedic problems and to consult a sports doctor before starting the natural race.

The benefits of barefoot shoes

At the same time, the lawyers of the minimalist race or barefoot argue that this type of running limits back pain, because it encourages small strides and attack by the front of the foot.

Researchers at the University of Nevada recruited 43 riders for a treadmill experience to see if the forefoot or heel strike could increase or decrease lumbar lordosis, a common trigger for back pain .

They noted that running with a forefoot stride "did not make any difference in the amount of flexion or extension on the lumbar spine". However, the heel strike produces a greater shock wave throughout the body, which, according to Runner's World, could be related to the long strides of runners in shoes.

Furthermore, during the study, people who used to land naturally on the back of the foot reported feeling more comfortable with this type of running than when asked to change their stride. to land on the front of the foot. But Runner's World explains that this is normal: "What we are used to is almost always more comfortable than something new. "