When compared with thick cushioned standard running shoes, minimalist running shoes are the very best for your knees, long-term.
Compelling evidence suggests knee-joint mechanics and health is strongly influenced by footwear whereby a study by Perl et al., in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise found that barefoot and minimalist shoes led to better running economy partly because of more efficient and stable knee kinematics than both heel strike and forefoot strike runners in standard, thickly cushioned running shoe.
The researchers revealed barefoot and minimalist running led to a 9% reduction in knee excursion (less sideward movements) and minimized eccentric contractions of the quads to control knee flexion. Taken together, these were contributing factors that reduced metabolic costs as compared with cushioned running shoes.
Likewise, the barefoot and minimalist running group also showed better knee flexion which is an important parameter for enhancing impact absorption and running economy.
More confirming facts on this came from a study by Isabel in the journal Sports Medicine and another study by Royer & Martin in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports Exercise found that increased knee flexion (a bent knee), especially at touchdown during running improves energy economy by reducing the amount of knee flexion needed during the swing phase, which in turn, reduces the energy needed to flex the leg during swing.
All in all, minimalist running shoes are verifiably preventive medicine for your knees because they encourage more functional use of the knee which also prompts safer, and more economic stride parameters. Read more here!
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