In an age of expensive athletic shoes and broken glass on streets, barefoot running is a rare sight. But, more coaches and trainers are embracing barefoot training for their runners and today recreational athletes, fed up with expensive shoes and lower extremities injuries, are obtaining about this new trend. It really is not so new, as individuals have been running barefoot for years and years. Zola Budd made barefoot running famous by breaking the women's 5000 meter world record in 1984, running barefoot. So, how come we all paying high dollar for cloth and rubber to surround our feet? Are shoes the problem or even the solution? Many are not in agreement about barefoot running and the arguements for and against barefoot proponents, coaches, trainers, runners and podiatrists is within full swing.

Many reason that since our ancestors did their walking and running barefoot, we should too. But, the surfaces we walk on today are much more rigid and fewer forgiving than the grass, dirt as well as stone roads our ancestors stepped onto. Glass and metal shards are common on roads and weren't a significant concern a few hundred years ago.

You will find various kinds of feet. Many people have high arch feet plus some people have really low arch feet. Some foot types may adapt well to barefoot running, but that doesn't mean all foot types will. The mechanics of the foot are extremely complicated. Those who overpronate (rotate in) and have a flexible and flat foot type, typically require a more supportive shoe and often a customized orthotic. People with a really rigid, high arch foot type, place a tremendous amount of pressure externally their feet and could need a shoe or insert to assist even this pressure out. Both of these individuals would definitely end up getting injuries when they attempted to run barefoot.

Proponents

Barefoot proponents declare that the shod foot (foot enclosed in a shoe) becomes weak with time when it's constricted. They also declare that the body is unable to sense the floor and adapt appropriately. This wherewithal to sense and adapt appropriately leads to injury. Your body spends more energy when running in a shoe, than when running barefoot. Some runners claim that the few scratches on their feet were much less painful compared to blisters they ordinarily have to cope with following a half or full marathon.

Research

The scientific evidence supporting barefoot running is lacking. Several small studies have supported barefoot running. One study in the Internal Journal of Sports Medicine discovered that there is actually less effect on feet while running barefoot due to the way the body adjusts to the impact. Another study found that the body uses about 4% more energy while running in shoes when compared with running barefoot. In underdeveloped countries with both shod and unshod feet, comparisons show a higher rate of injuries in the shod foot.

Opposition

Opponents don't find these studies convincing and claim that these studies were too small or not completed properly. They point to the fact that the study in underdeveloped countries and explain this informs us very little about injuries and performance in civilized world.

Those opposing barefoot running do so for a lot of reasons. Podiatrists, generally, are the more vocal towards barefoot running. The biggest reason for opposition is foot protection. Puncture wounds would be the greatest concern for all those running without any protective shoe gear. Many podiatrists feel that blisters and injury result from ill-fitting shoes, not every shoes.

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