Barefoot experience

The benefits of running barefoot have long been supported by scientific research, coaches and athletes, who believe that a gradual system of training barefoot will strengthen muscles in the feet and lower legs, leading to better running form and improved injury resistance.

However, running completely barefoot also exposes you to elements and obstacles that can cause injury. That’s where the Vibram Fivefinger shoes come in - the first footwear to offer the sensation of going barefoot with the protection of a vibram sole.

I have been trialling a pair of Vibram fivefinger KSOs recently (see pic below), for running and everyday wear. There’s been lots of research in the last few years on footwear and footcare. Shoes stop feet from working properly - most are too restrictive to let our feet do their thing - move.

There’s 26 bones in your foot. Here’s a question… do you think they move? Well, as the human foot has evolved past being a flipper, of course they move; 33 joints see to that. But encase the foot in a rigid structure, lace it up tight, and those joints become less mobile.

And if the joints aren’t moving properly the associated muscles aren’t working efficiently either. A bit like when you break a bone and the limb is encased in a plaster cast. You take the cast off… then wonder who replaced your forearm with that alien, atrophied, replica of what it used to look like.

Neat Feet…

Anyhoo, back to the Fivefinger KSO shoes. Obvious statement; but it really IS like going barefoot. The most comfortable shoe I’ve ever worn - they are so minimalist you forget you’re wearing them. You feel connected with the ground, you walk differently, posture and balance is improved.

Because of the way you use your toes in them, they engage the muscles in the back of your legs and buttocks (yay!) differently. As a therapist I see a lot of muscle imbalances in patients. Many present with a weak posterior chain (muscles that run from your lower back down behind your legs). Going barefoot is a good start in strengthening those muscles, so kick off those leather coffins.

Running in the KSOs is an absolute joy. If you hate running, seriously get a pair of these and start. It’s like running when you were a child; free, effortless and without pain. You run more lightly and efficiently. Some geeky research to back this up as well, click here if you want to learn more about barefoot running biomechanics, or just bore your non-running friends and family.

And 6 reasons to run or train in Fivefingers can be found right here.

Final word of warning: if you’re wearing Fivefingers be prepared to get odd looks from strangers - for some of us, nothing new there then…