Eating healthy and staying in shape are key to having a healthy lifestyle. Some people take up running as a way to burn off those extra calories, but before rushing and buying a pair of sneakers, it is important to know what is out there. Buying the wrong fitted shoes can cause injuries. Barefoot shoes might be something to look into though so let us take a look of what is so great, or not so great, about them.
Runners want to make sure the sneaker is right for their foot, but there are quite a few runners who have insoles or some type of arch support or cushion under their foot. This makes it more difficult for the foot to do its natural job. Using barefoot sneakers or running completely barefoot helps strengthen the foot ligaments, tendons and muscles rather than suffocating them under all the cushions.
Running without anything covering the feet or with the five fingered shoes also lets the runner work on a better and healthier stride. They encourage the runner to land on the ball and forefront of the foot rather than the heel. This makes the gait of the runner much more fluid and faster.
The feet start to act more like a spring and less like a brake that is halting the stride of the runner. By doing this, the hips, lower back and knees take less of a jarring then reducing the amount of injury that is done to those areas. The overall posture of the runner is healthier when the stride becomes more natural.
There is a drawback to these sneakers though. Because there is not as much cushion between the foot and the ground, there obviously is less protection which can make it a little more treacherous if running through areas that are prone to having glass and sharp object around. Look for a trail that has a lot of glass or possibly astroturf.
If running without anything between the feet and the ground sounds appealing, make sure that there is proper time to make the transition. Start out slowly with shorter distances and then use them more regularly for longer distance. The same theory goes for running with five fingered shoes. It is important to build up to it and work on strengthening the calf and foot muscles.
As of yet, there is no clear answer as to whether or not sneakers, barefoot shoes, or no shoe running is the best way to go. It really depends on what the runner thinks is comfortable and is what they need. So take the time to do the proper research and investigation as to what sounds like the best option.
Runners want to make sure the sneaker is right for their foot, but there are quite a few runners who have insoles or some type of arch support or cushion under their foot. This makes it more difficult for the foot to do its natural job. Using barefoot sneakers or running completely barefoot helps strengthen the foot ligaments, tendons and muscles rather than suffocating them under all the cushions.
Running without anything covering the feet or with the five fingered shoes also lets the runner work on a better and healthier stride. They encourage the runner to land on the ball and forefront of the foot rather than the heel. This makes the gait of the runner much more fluid and faster.
The feet start to act more like a spring and less like a brake that is halting the stride of the runner. By doing this, the hips, lower back and knees take less of a jarring then reducing the amount of injury that is done to those areas. The overall posture of the runner is healthier when the stride becomes more natural.
There is a drawback to these sneakers though. Because there is not as much cushion between the foot and the ground, there obviously is less protection which can make it a little more treacherous if running through areas that are prone to having glass and sharp object around. Look for a trail that has a lot of glass or possibly astroturf.
If running without anything between the feet and the ground sounds appealing, make sure that there is proper time to make the transition. Start out slowly with shorter distances and then use them more regularly for longer distance. The same theory goes for running with five fingered shoes. It is important to build up to it and work on strengthening the calf and foot muscles.
As of yet, there is no clear answer as to whether or not sneakers, barefoot shoes, or no shoe running is the best way to go. It really depends on what the runner thinks is comfortable and is what they need. So take the time to do the proper research and investigation as to what sounds like the best option.
About the Author:
Barefoot Running is increasing in popularity like never before. You'll find a lot of great benefits to wearing Barefoot shoes today - let us introduce them to you.
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