NEW TRENDS
Running Barefoot How to Train Your Clients
By Amanda Vogel, MA human kinetics THE BENEFITS OF RUNNING BAREFOOT
“Most people have generally weak feet,” says David Weck, a barefoot runner and creator of the BOSU® Balance Trainer. “Running shoes actually let you get away with lazier running mechanics,” he says. The theory behind barefoot running and walking is that it makes
feet stronger, which leads to an overall stronger, more mobile and better functioning body. When you consider how our feet are meant to function, the benefits of barefoot running and walking become more obvious.
Stronger Feet “Our feet evolved to interface with a variety of sur- faces, and shoes almost completely eliminate that function of the foot,” says Anthony Carey, M.A., a corrective exercise specialist, author of The Pain Free Program: A Proven Method to Relieve Back, Neck, Shoulder and Joint Pain, and CEO of Function First. Running barefoot helps your feet—
and body--experience more varied ter- rain, which requires varied responses from the ankles and feet. The result? Running barefoot can strengthen and improve how the feet and ankles function—a benefit that transfers up to the entire body. “The job of the foot is to absorb
shock and enable the body to move forward,” says Justin Price, M.A., who specializes in assessing and correcting neuromuscular and structural imbalances at his facility The BioMechanics. “The arch support in shoes takes away the ability of the foot to be
strong,” Price says. When you eliminate the foot’s ability to properly absorb shock—because shoes do it for them—that shock tends to shift upward to the ankles, hips, knees, and spine.
Imagine stepping out for a run without any shoes on—it’s called barefoot running, and it’s an emerging trend in the running and fitness industries.
For most people, running barefoot goes against conventional
wisdom. Besides the “freeing” feeling of kicking off your shoes, what’s so compelling about this fitness trend? It turns out that despite advances in shoe technology meant to
make running safer and more efficient, running injuries remain high. Avid barefoot runners claim that the answer to cutting down on injury and revving up running efficiency may not involve shoes at all.
24 canfitpro MARCH/APRIL 2011
Better Running Efficiency Another benefit of barefoot running is that “it creates better running efficiency because it helps you hold your body in the best position and alignment possible,” says Weck. Some barefoot runners say this type of improved running economy reduces fatigue while running.
HOW YOUR CLIENTS CAN SAFELY BEGIN BAREFOOT RUNNING
If you’re convinced that barefoot running is worth a try for you and/ or select training clients, progress gradually to sidestep the injuries you and your clients are trying to avoid in the first place. “Learning new gait mechanics is a big part of barefoot running,” says Weck. “For example, your foot comes down flatter with barefoot running versus striking down with your heel first.”
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