Vibram Five Fingers

I am in love with my new vibram five fingers bikila ls. I have researched and contemplated purchasing these shoes for over one year. Fitness enthusiasts seem to love them or hate them. This style of shoe is a highly debatable topic in the fitness industry right now with both sides providing research to back up their claims. It all started with the barefoot running phenomenon.

Barefoot running, or minimalist running is not a new idea. The Tarahumara Indians of Mexico have been doing it for centuries in some of the most rugged terrain in South America. The tribe has been known to run for hundreds of miles at a time with little rest and have been mostly immune to the diseases that plague most human beings. They seem to have amazing vitality and a deep connection with their bodies. In 2009, the book "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall was released. The book explores the running habits and lives of the Tarahumara Indians and the philosophy behind barefoot running from a scientific and laboratory perspective.

There are claims that both styles of running cause injury. However, running in regular running shoes has the most research since the running world has been engaged in this type of running for a longer period of time. It seems that the more supportive a shoe becomes, the more injuries we have. Most runners suffer from over training. The most common injuries include plantar fasciitis and shin splints. These injuries can keep a runner down and out for very long periods of time and sometimes the only way to heal is to stop running completely.

Minimalist runners claim that they have eliminated those chronic running conditions. This is because the running stride and step are completely different than what we have been taught to run like. Most runners are heel strikers, and barefoot runners are forefoot or mid-foot strikers. Here is an example of a forefoot strike.

Here is an example of a mid-foot strike.

And finally a heel strike.

Minimalist runners make the claim that are injury free because of the shear force distribution of body weight and the overall impact to the ground. There is honestly a lot of information out there arguing both sides of the story and I figured the only way to really find out is to finally break down and buy a pair. I am only two weeks in to my training, and it is a completely new way of running. So far, I have not experienced andy knee pain at all and I generally do. However, when you start training in the Vibram Five Fingers you are supposed to work your mileage up over a long period of time. This is highly recommended as I, of course, over did it and have been experiencing a little soreness through the bottom tendon of my foot. Baby steps. There is a pdf brochure here that details the gradual training process of barefoot running. ALL of the people I know that have minimalist shoes love them and are injury free. Get a pair, and test it out for yourself- you may learn to love to run again like you did when you were young.