Michelle Herrick from Foot Mechanics Podiatry on site at the registration for the 2010 Auckland Marathon.  The team at Foot Mechanics wishes all their athletes well for the race on Sunday.

Wearing Barefoot-Style Shoes

The newest trend in running is about baring it all - kind of. Lately, more runners are logging miles in barefoot-style shoes such as Vibram Five Fingers.  As a Podiatrist I have been asked many times recently about these new shoes.  Kansas City podiatrist, Brian

Ware says barefoot beginners might be sore after working those muscles and tendons. Ware recommends walking in the shoes a couple of times a week for a few weeks before even attempting to jog. And even when you start jogging in barefoot-style shoes, you should take it slowly. “Don’t just strap on a pair of barefoot running shoes and go run five or six miles,” Ware said. “Your body’s going to rebel big-time.”

It takes time of our bodies to adjust to new forces and movement, so take it easy if you’re trying these new barefoot style shoes!  No doubt there will be research to follow on how effective these shoes are for injury prevention.  Until there is sound research my advise is stick to what we know works.  If you want help fitting running shoes we have Podiatrists available every week in many stores across New Zealand, see our website for locations.

Reproduced from source: Sarah Benson, The Kansas City Star [9/21/10]

TV advertising and in-store promotions at many shoe stores around New Zealand have familiarized consumers with “toning shoes”.  As Podiatrists we are asked every day by our patients for advice about these types of shoes.

Leading Podiatrist Dr Kevin Kirby, an Adjunct Associate Professor within the Department of Applied Biomechanics at the Californian School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt University in Oakland, says that foot comfort while wearing shoes is more like to come from differences in the foot structure and function than from the “toning shoes”.

Dr Patrick DeHeer, a practicing Doctor of Podiatric Medicine goes further to say that the claims being made by the marketers of “toning shoes” could be described as false advertising.

Researches compared 12 patients walking in traditional walking shoes with 12 patients walking in “toning shoes”

The researchers concluded that there is “simply no evidence” that toning shoes aid in a more intense exercise, help shoe wearers burn more calories or improve muscle strength and tone.  The research was sponsored by the American Council on Exercise.