From elite athletes to daily joggers, many people have embraced the barefoot running trend. According to some sports podiatrists, running without supportive footwear can encourage a more natural stride, which can lead to fewer injuries in the long run. For those who do not want to take the risk of stepping on something nasty, barefoot shoes offer minimal foot protection while encouraging good running form. Here are three reasons to consider adding barefoot shoes to your regular athletic shoe rotation.
1. Space to Spread
Many running shoes have pointed, narrow toe boxes that hold the toes tightly together. While this shape might look good, it prevents your toes from spreading out to evenly distribute the impact of your landing across the whole of your forefoot.
Barefoot shoes have much wider toe boxes than regular shoes. Some even have individual toe pockets, which hold your toes in a spread position while you run. Although they might look a little clown-like, wearing shoes with a wide toe box could actually help you to avoid developing bunions, hammertoes and blackened toenails.
2. Zero Drop
The "drop" of a running shoe is the difference between the height of the sole at the heel and its height at the ball of the foot. Most running shoes hold the heel significantly higher than the front of the foot. The aim is to provide plenty of cushion under the heel, but many podiatrists argue that flatter shoes, which encourage you to land on the front of the foot, are actually more effective at preventing injuries associated with a heel strike.
Barefoot shoes are zero-drop shoes, which means their soles are a consistent height along the length of the foot. Over the long term, wearing zero-drop shoes can help to lengthen your calf muscles. However, transitioning too quickly into barefoot shoes can lead to calf strains. Whenever you get new shoes that are very different from the footwear you usually run in, it is important to keep your runs short at first to give your body a chance to adjust.
3. Less Support
Many running shoe brands boast about the arch support their shoes provide, but some podiatrists believe that arch supports can actually weaken feet in the long run. Barefoot shoes force your arch muscles to work hard, which can help to repair flat feet. However, this process of strengthening often takes a long time. If you have flat feet or problems with your arches, it is a good idea to consult a sports podiatrist before you replace your current running shoes with barefoot shoes.
