Why Older Runners Need to Wear Minimalist Shoes

In a cushioned running shoe, the feet receive less sensory stimulation as compared with a minimalist shoe. When plantar sensory processes are impaired, sensory motor performance becomes impaired too, which is a major problem for older runners because their risk of falling becomes greater.

A minimalist running shoe that feels barefoot will automatically strengthen the foot/ankle complex and fix biomechanical impairments, helping elderly runners stay injury-free.

Why Older Runners Need
Aside from running barefoot, minimalist footwear improves the ability of the feet to modulate and constructively harness running-related stressors.

Why Older Runners Need to Wear Minimalist Shoes

Proper running biomechanics hinges on foot health, which is strongly affected by footwear.

Cushioned running shoes contribute to running injuries because they inhibit the foot’s ability to adapt to mechanical stress, and foster biomechanical alterations as a runner ages.

Furthermore, an unusually fragile foot structure, caused by cushioned running shoes, coincides with the onset of age-related musculoskeletal degeneration, suggesting that habitually shod older runners have feet that are unable to sustain the use of running without injury. And, weak feet coincides with poor ankle and knee-joint mobility, making running a risky business for older runners.

  •  Fukuchi et al. found that habitually shod older runners had greater calf muscle weakness and reduced ankle plantar and dorsi- flexion range of motion compared to young shod runners.
  • The major areas of weakness in older runners were distal aspects of the lower extremity such as the calves, ankles and feet.

The nature of the lower extremity weakness in the shod older runners is the hallmark of the use of stiff, heavily cushioned running shoes, which prevents the bony architecture of the foot from yielding normal loading (Robbins and Hanna). This is when running becomes a pain-related activity for the older runner.

Luckily, the foot is able to bounce back quickly, regardless of age. In fact, those who run wearing barefoot running shoes will make the most progress. Why?

A telling study by Robbins and Hanna discovered that the foot of a habitually shod older runner can be easily rehabilitated via barefoot or minimalist  (barefoot like shoes) adaptations and can become strong to deflect loading and absorb impact without protective running shoes. Not to mention, barefoot conditions also encourages a forefoot strike landing during running, which induces resistance to lower extremity injury.

Basically, the feet need mechanical stress to grow strong; without mechanical stress, the feet as well as the body as a whole, would weaken — This is why habitually barefoot runners have physically stronger legs and feet and sharper biomechanics than the average shod-jogger.

  • The novel difference is habitually shod runners injure frequently, especially older ones, because they wear cushioned running shoes to avoid mechanical stress!!

A runner with resilient feet, i.e. a barefoot or minimalist runner, is not a runner who avoids mechanical stress, but is a runner who learns and adopts the natural reflexes to tame it.

Be sure to check out my other articles on minimalist running shoes and why they are the best sensory intervention for the feet, next to running barefoot.

More From Run Forefoot:

How to Avoid Sore Toes When Running

Why Your Hips Hurt From Running

Runners Knee Pain

What’s the Proper Way to Land When Running

Heel Strike vs Forefoot Strike


References:

Fukuchi, R.K., Duarte, M., 2008. Comparison of three-dimensional lower extremity running kinematics of young adult and elderly runners. J. Sports Sci. 26, 1447–1454.

Fukuchi et al. Flexibility, muscle strength and running biomechanical adaptations in older runners. Clin Biomech, 2014; 304-310.

McGibbon, C.A., 2003. Toward a better understanding of gait changes with age and disablement: neuromuscular adaptation. Exerc. Sport Sci. Rev. 31, 102–108.

Robbins SE and Hanna AM. Running-related injury prevention through barefoot adaptation. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 1987; 19(2):148-156.

Bretta Riches

"I believe the forefoot strike is the engine of endurance running..."

BSc Neurobiology; MSc Biomechanics candidate, ultra minimalist runner & founder of RunForefoot. I was a heel striker, always injured. I was inspired by the great Tirunesh Dibaba to try forefoot running. Now, I'm injury free. This is why I launched Run Forefoot, to advocate the health & performance benefits of forefoot running and to raise awareness on the dangers of heel striking, because the world needs to know.
Bretta Riches

P.S. Don't forget to check out the Run Forefoot Facebook Page, it's a terrific place to ask questions about forefoot running, barefoot running and injury. I'm always happy to help!

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.