Because of their full flexibility and wide fit, minimalist shoes were found to prevent the degeneration of soft tissues and muscles in the feet and in the ankle and calves. Also, minimalist shoes were found to make the foot’s arch better at storing energy-saving elastic power, which in turn, can reduce muscle costs by 17% as compared with traditional running shoes.
Leaning slightly forward when running proved more effective at engaging better leg swing control that prevents an over-stride, and results in significantly less impact at the knee, while providing more economical benefits, too, as compared with running too upright with your torso.
Unlike cushioned running shoes which were consistently found to cause more rigid heel strike landings and inappropriate joint loading, especially at the knee, the sensory input when you run barefoot translates into more fast-changing improvements, allowing you to use your leg swing and forefoot strike mechanics as functionally and safely as possible, while helping the feet build more strength and resilience against tough training. This is why barefoot running should be done in the first instance because the ground-feel is the only way to enhance the motor commands for low impact running.
Forefoot running promotes energy efficiency by making all of the elastic structures in the lower leg do a better job at storing and releasing energy-saving elastic power. This was found to greatly improve running economy by dramatically reducing energy-expensive muscle costs as compared with heel strike running, which not only fully impedes the elastic properties of the arch and Achilles, it also damages these structures in a continuous way.
More research piles up confirming that cushioned running shoes do not align well with reducing injuries because these shoes were found to make unsafe and inefficient uses of the knee-joint and the Achilles tendon as compared with minimalist shoes, which are barefoot-like running shoes that do more to correct your running form and strengthen your feet.
Copyright © 2025 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes