Training Barefoot - Is Freeing Your Feet The Healthier Way?
If you have been living in a cave or just stepped out of the jungle barefoot then you can skip this article. However for most of us with feet that have been shaped and moulded from the Nike Free shoe then welcome to an emerging trend in training called the 'Barefoot Revolution'. Companies like Nike have jumped on board releasing their Nike Free range and employing the likes of Paula Radcliff and Wayne Rooney to promote them. But is it just another gimmick? So is going barefoot a healthier option?
In this article I will outline the 1. Potential Nike Free Run shoe dangers 2. A functional trainer's perspective to barefoot training 3. Tips to consider before going barefoot 4. Are barefoot shoes an option?As I was saying, about two weeks ago I went out to pound the pavement again and I ran my old route, 1.5 miles in about 15 minutes. That was typical when I was running [semi] regularly. What wasn't typical was the way I handled the hills and finished with a strong sprint. My performance surprised me! I ran very well considering it was my first time running in years. The next time out I figured I'd try two laps, and again to my surprise, I ran strong and was barely fatigued matching my previous best. I would have kept going but the chaffing on my thighs made even walking normal impossible. Such is the life of a big man. By now I am realizing that my kettlebell lifting had prepared my heart and lungs for the stress of running. Looking back it's funny, most people use running for conditioning for sport, but I used kettlebell sport for conditioning for running.
1. Potential shoe dangers
Wearing the wrong shoe can directly cause or aggravated the following:
- Arch pain
- Arthritis of the foot
- Bunions
- Calluses
- Corns
- Foot numbness
- Hammer toe
- Heel fissures
- Heel pain
- Heel spurs
- Mallet toe
- Overlapping toes
Adding to that list is the indirect effect of wearing Nike Free Run 2 shoes (especially improperly fitted ones) which includes especially ankle, knee, and hip dysfunction. The other major side effect indicated especially with poorly fitted shoes is back pain. Beauty/fashion has seduced many people into cramming their feet into narrow shoes. I am constantly reminding female clients of the dangers of high heel Nike Free Run 3. Yes ladies, they may look good, but they are a sure fire way to encourage future problems (particularly in the back) due to progressively shortening and tightening of the calf muscles (which has a chain reaction effect to other areas like the back) and restricting the foot.
2. A functional trainer's perspective to barefoot training
Functional training expert Ian O'Dwyer from Fitness Personally on the Gold Coast in Australia gives four reasons why he trains his clients in bare feet:
a) The foot contains the most proprioceptors (sensors) in the body...why would we want to "slow" the messages to the nervous system by minimizing the impact/ground force the foot accepts.
b) The foot contains 26 Bones and 25 joints...if you think that the legs have 2 knee joints and 2 hip joints it would be obvious to reason that the feet would be more important to have working at optimal efficiency!! Very important that we get the foot to move in all 3 planes.
Welcome to visit homepage: http://www.nikefreerunsaleaustralia2013.eu/
If you have been living in a cave or just stepped out of the jungle barefoot then you can skip this article. However for most of us with feet that have been shaped and moulded from the Nike Free shoe then welcome to an emerging trend in training called the 'Barefoot Revolution'. Companies like Nike have jumped on board releasing their Nike Free range and employing the likes of Paula Radcliff and Wayne Rooney to promote them. But is it just another gimmick? So is going barefoot a healthier option?
In this article I will outline the 1. Potential Nike Free Run shoe dangers 2. A functional trainer's perspective to barefoot training 3. Tips to consider before going barefoot 4. Are barefoot shoes an option?As I was saying, about two weeks ago I went out to pound the pavement again and I ran my old route, 1.5 miles in about 15 minutes. That was typical when I was running [semi] regularly. What wasn't typical was the way I handled the hills and finished with a strong sprint. My performance surprised me! I ran very well considering it was my first time running in years. The next time out I figured I'd try two laps, and again to my surprise, I ran strong and was barely fatigued matching my previous best. I would have kept going but the chaffing on my thighs made even walking normal impossible. Such is the life of a big man. By now I am realizing that my kettlebell lifting had prepared my heart and lungs for the stress of running. Looking back it's funny, most people use running for conditioning for sport, but I used kettlebell sport for conditioning for running.
1. Potential shoe dangers
Wearing the wrong shoe can directly cause or aggravated the following:
- Arch pain
- Arthritis of the foot
- Bunions
- Calluses
- Corns
- Foot numbness
- Hammer toe
- Heel fissures
- Heel pain
- Heel spurs
- Mallet toe
- Overlapping toes
Adding to that list is the indirect effect of wearing Nike Free Run 2 shoes (especially improperly fitted ones) which includes especially ankle, knee, and hip dysfunction. The other major side effect indicated especially with poorly fitted shoes is back pain. Beauty/fashion has seduced many people into cramming their feet into narrow shoes. I am constantly reminding female clients of the dangers of high heel Nike Free Run 3. Yes ladies, they may look good, but they are a sure fire way to encourage future problems (particularly in the back) due to progressively shortening and tightening of the calf muscles (which has a chain reaction effect to other areas like the back) and restricting the foot.
2. A functional trainer's perspective to barefoot training
Functional training expert Ian O'Dwyer from Fitness Personally on the Gold Coast in Australia gives four reasons why he trains his clients in bare feet:
a) The foot contains the most proprioceptors (sensors) in the body...why would we want to "slow" the messages to the nervous system by minimizing the impact/ground force the foot accepts.
b) The foot contains 26 Bones and 25 joints...if you think that the legs have 2 knee joints and 2 hip joints it would be obvious to reason that the feet would be more important to have working at optimal efficiency!! Very important that we get the foot to move in all 3 planes.
Welcome to visit homepage: http://www.nikefreerunsaleaustralia2013.eu/
