Barefoot Running
There are many people who believe that modern training shoes are not correctly designed to aid the runner and in fact lead to an increase in the chance of injury not reduce it. They say that training shoes can impede correct running form as they promote landing on the heel of the foot. It is believed that because the heel contains no natural shock absorber, impact can lead to Achilles tendon, knee and even back damage. Landing on the heel can also be less effective as it is slowing us down as it is pushing the ground in the opposite direction that we are trying to run.
There is a growing movement dedicated to getting back to basics and actually removing training shoes from the equation and running in barefoot. The emphasis in this method is to use the natural shock absorption of the ball of the foot as well as always being powered forward.
Most barefoot runners do so on soft terrain such as grass or sand. But there are a more committed following who will run on harder surfaces.
It is believed that barefoot running can actually reduce injury due to forcing the runner to adopt “correct form” and not rely on the supposed shock absorption benefits of trainers. Like any new method of training, it is essential that it is entered into with full research and caution to reduce risk of “rookie injury”.
The first stage of barefoot running should be to simply get used to walking without trainers. Get used to walking on different terrains, feel the rough asphalt on your soles and when your feet are tired try walking on a softer terrain such as grass.
It is recommended that 30 minutes of daily barefoot walking is a good place to start. This will allow the skin to thicken on the sole of the foot. Get used to using the ball of the foot to land. It should take 3 -4 weeks for the skin to thicken on the soles of the foot to ensure the process is more comfortable. When walking barefoot start to become easier, it is then advised to start jogging and over the weeks gradually increase to running. At this point you should have gained the required smooth motion and it should be a comfortable process.