Comments on: are running shoes causing injury?

By: Mac

Mac — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 06:57:06 +0000

It references this study:

“In a 1997 study, researchers Steven Robbins and Edward Waked at McGill University in Montreal found that the more padding a running shoe has, the more force the runner hits the ground with: In effect, we instinctively plant our feet harder to cancel out the shock absorption of the padding. (The study found the same thing holds true when gymnasts land on soft mats—they actually land harder.) We do this, apparently, because we need to feel the ground in order to feel balanced.”

Read more: How We’re Wrecking Our Feet With Every Step We Take — New York Magazine http://nymag.com/health/features/46213/index2.html#ixzz0e4jANKvH

By: Mac

Mac — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 06:56:43 +0000

The section connecting running to gymnastics is on page 173 (Chapter 25). It isn’t about gymnasts running, but rather landing on soft mats as a parallel to the soft padding in the heel of modern running shoes. The softer the padding, the harder and less stable the landing.

By: don’t throw your shoes under the bus — Gymnastics Coaching.com

don’t throw your shoes under the bus — Gymnastics Coaching.com — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:26:50 +0000

[...] More research on whether Nike has caused all your foot and leg injuries. [...]

By: Vibram Five Fingers – gloves for the feet — Gymnastics Coaching.com

Vibram Five Fingers – gloves for the feet — Gymnastics Coaching.com — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:51:57 +0000

[...] convinced that traditional running shoes might be causing them injury are trying more natural footwear as an [...]

By: Full Twist » Running Barefoot – The Debate

Full Twist » Running Barefoot – The Debate — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:45:25 +0000

[...] this week Rick posted “Are running shoes causing injury?”, where he spoke about a book he reviewed on his own website and about whether shoes should [...]

By: Jamie

Jamie — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:50:20 +0000

I’ll have to have a read of that book, thanks Rick. very interesting. I don’t know if you know about The Science Of Sport blog, not sure if a link will come up here or not but I’ll give it a shot http://www.sportscientists.com Their latest post http://www.sportsscientists.com/2010/01/running-barefoot-vs-shoes.html is about the Running Barefoot debate, one of the contributers is Ross Tucker who writes many Anatomy & Physiology books. if the links don’t come up here let me know

By: Blair Lowe

Blair Lowe — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 07:51:36 +0000

WL shoes allow you to have a very sturdy surface to press your heel through besides allow for less ankle flexion.

Myself, I’ve been probably barefoot 80% of my life. People are shocked when I wear shoes and I generally am barefoot or wear sandals/slippers (moccasins now).

Nicole, I as well get really sore feet when I have to wear shoes. That and I’ve basically always hated shoes from a very young age.

I have gotten a lot of flack for WL barefoot but WL in chucks is a new experience for me. I actually seem less stable than barefoot. Some will say, the forces on the foot are too much; but I’d wager the forces on the foot while sprinting may eclipse WL forces. For most of the past 13 years, I’ve just lifted in trainers, but in recent years I have taken to lifting barefoot since I was barefoot in the gym.

One of the reasons many gymnasts don’t run well in the first place has to do with being too weak to run on the forefoot in the first place or muscle imbalances/leg issues (ankles/knees/hips).

By: M.L.

M.L. — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 04:59:07 +0000

I don’t see a parallel between running shoe cushioning and softer mats for landing. Dropping 2-3 inches in a stride vs. several feet onto the mats (with torque) are apples and oranges.

As an NSCA personal trainer and CSCS, I whole-heartedly support the five fingers/barefoot running movement. To answer Nicole’s question, free weight lifting ought to be done in hard, flat shoes, for exactly the reason you give – thick shoes deaden the responses occurring between your feet and the floor. I recommend Chuck Taylors to my clients who are serious about lifting.

By: Steven Low

Steven Low — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 02:59:51 +0000

The main problem with gymnastics is that most of the coaches instruct their kids to land with legs together, and the judges encourage that.

Stuck landings should have feet shoulder width apart.

Increase the Q-angle (feet together on landing) and you increase femoral and tibial internal rotation, stress on the ACL, medial arch (for collapsed arches), etc. as described in lower body dysfunctions.

This is one of the big reasons why we still see a lot of flat feet and potential other orthopedic injuries along this vein (except far less than in the normal population) in gymnasts still.

I think you posted on this before Rick… either that or it was on conditioningresearch.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 02:12:22 +0000

I agree with Katrina about the Vibram Five Fingers. They are absolutely the most comfortable shoes I have owned. I have had several foot surgeries and an ankle reconstruction and whenever I wear running shoes my feet go numb.Five fingers are essentially running shoes for people who like to be barefoot. I run and workout in them regularly. They are also the ugliest shoes I have ever owned, but I am willing to sacrifice the style for the comfort. Also, they retail for about $80 canadian which is almost half the price of most high end running shoes. I highly recommend them, expecially for former gymnasts who have spent so much of their life training barefoot.