I, too, suffer from extremely flat feet. Because of it, I’ve found that while I want to run to stay in shape, I can’t because my feet hurt too much. I thought that running on an elliptical would help to reduce shock to my feet and knees, as was the same thought when it came to purchasing a pair of really nice Brooks running shoes designed for over-pronators like myself. I was wrong. The Brooks shoes made my feet hurt and when running on an elliptical while wearing them, I wouldn’t even get 15 minutes into my ‘run’ and I’d start to feel numbness in my feet. Not good. One day after attempting to workout and feeling like a failure because of my flat feet I thought of my childhood–

*quick flashback*: When I was young, I always noticed that in gym class with shoes on I had a hard time running, but that when I was home on the farm and running after my brother or the resident geese, I could fly and it didn’t hurt. I’d run more on the balls of my feet than my heels and it just felt ‘right’. *back to the gym*

So, with that thought in mind, and even though it’s probably against university policy, I set my shoes aside and ran around the indoor track in just my socks–just to see how it felt. To my surprise I ran a half mile like it was nothing!!! I never did it again because I got some weird looks and thought that something must be wrong with me that I can run so well that way.

But just tonight I got thinking about it and figured I’d look it up and see if I was just a freak or what the deal was. I was so thrilled to see that I’m not the only one who thinks that running barefoot just feels ‘right’!!! I am now going to purchase a pair of minimal shoes like the five fingers (only because it’ll make my university happy) and slowly start to run without the typical running shoes. For all I know, it might actually at least somewhat improve my flat feet! :)

Ken- January 22, 2010

After starting to get knee pain and problems with muscles in the hip/back attachment area, I threw out my hi-tech trainers and switched to minimal shoes – for everything. Oddly, not only did the pain disappear and not come back again, but my general fitness levels (using muscles naturally?) increased dramatically, I found myself less likely to turn ankles in unstable shoes, and my feet have strengthened and arches improved dramatically.

Shoes are not necessarily 100% bad (protect feet from cold, and from broken glass, needles etc in a city) but they’re just foot coverings – people did not evolve to need shoes to run. Best to keep them simple, and uninvasive of our healthy gait.

Yes, concrete probably isn’t optimal as surfaces go, but perhaps we should ask ourselves whether our invention (concrete) is deficient for human movement rather than nature’s (feet) ! We could consider building our pavements from softer materials (e.g. something similar to those rubber-asphalt-like surfaces used in children’s playgrounds).

As for barefoot running – just like any other set of muscles which are unusued, the feet atrophy. But I jumped in the deep end with barefoot walking, with very good results, and on that same day ran reasonably fast for about 15mins to catch a bus! I found I could run faster, and I never went back to ordinary shoes.

What’s more – no more aching arches after a day on my feet!

Increasing the strength of the intrinsic foot muscles should increase the arch height – in theory. I have not seen any good studies proving this.

To learn more about barefoot activity visit my site http;//www.americaspodiatrist.com

I’m not going to say anything about the barefoot conversation as I think others have done it justice… I will just say that I am more comfortable barefoot or in VFFs that in shoes.

Dan

Yes, I’m following the trend.

Christopher McDougal’s book “Born to Run” makes a pretty good case for the science of running barefoot (or as close to barefoot as possible). Plenty of weighing in by scientists, doctors, prominent coaches.

To the podiatrist quoted above I ask, “if there is a lot of hype, name it?”

Give me some examples of “hype”!

All I hear is testimonials by folks who have defeated injury and now run comfortably and happily either sans shoes or in Vibram Five Fingers or sandals or something similarly minimal.

When the climate and trail allow, I prefer to run barefoot. Just as I prefer to play the guitar bare handed, and not with gloves. I might play the guitar with gloves on, but I don’t like it. I also prefer to run barefoot.

However, I live in a climate with cold, wet winters so I need something to protect my feet from the cold. I also have some very rocky trails that I can walk over barefoot, but when I run over it, I need some protection.

The strange thing, however, is that it is nearly impossible to find shoes, or running shoes, that allow a natural (barefoot-like) gait. What I want in a shoe is:
- to be foot shaped, so not pointy, and with enough room for the toes. This eliminates 90% of all shoes.
- to NOT raise the heel. I don’t like the heel to be higher than the toes.
- to have a sole that is strong enough, but at the same time thin and supple.

There are very few shoes that meet these requierments. For everyday use one of the few are some of the Vivobarefoot shoes, or some moccassins.

For running none (!) of the ‘running’ shoes meet the requierments. Closest are the most minimalistic competition shoes by the big companies. But even better are some ‘non running shoe’ solutions, such as Aqua socks (6 euros, the best solution in my book), neoprene dive socks (15 euros), vibram five fingers (although I personally do not like the feeling of cloth between the toes), tai chi/ kung fu/ ballet shoes (10 euros).

To get back to science: I would love to see a comparative study of four groups of runners:
- Group A runs in “good” running shoes (read: the off-the-shelff Nike, Saucony etc. shoes)
- Group B runs in cheap running shoes (no-name running shoes)
- Group C runs in minimal shoes that allow a natural gait
- Group D runs barefoot.

If we have four groups of, say, 200 (?) runners we may draw some conclusions. Like, explain the number of injuries (I) from type of footwear (F) , fitness level (L) of the athlete, training intensity (INT) and previous history of injuries (HIST).

In a formula: I = a.F + b.L + c.INT + d.HIST

Scientists: please start such a study!

It’s not unlike deadlifting with wraps or hooks instead of developing a strong grip or wearing a tight belt instead of developing a strong core and upper back.

Why stop with barefeet people, take it all off. We weren’t born with it, so we don’t need it. Most fun also, is I used to wear glasses, but god didn’t give those to me either. Now, I can run naked and crash into things. You never know what will happen next or what I can smack into!