Feet hurt? Stop wearing shoes!

[NoSole]

I thought this was particularly poignant because I know there has been a lot of discussion on this topic. So this morning when I sat down in front of my comp to find an article on the Yahoo frontpage talking about the perfection that is the human foot, it was too good to pass up. Read up if you like:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89830802

[Corndogg]

nice. i think out of everything, my Chaco sandals has the most ergonomically correct footbed. it actually makes your feet conform to it, since your feet are typically jacked up by other shoes. so its hurts for a while as your feet conform, then its super comfortable.

[Bagheera]

I like barefoot. Barefoot good. Mmmh.





Oh ya, also: Vibram FiveFingers= Awesome
http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/products/products_KSO.cfm




And: http://runningbarefoot.org/

[Meatlad]

A friend (the occassionally-present Mad Mangler) recently had planarfarcitis (sp?) basically resulting from walking on too many even surfaces. The foot is designed to be stressed every which way, and if you walk on only one surface, some muscles get stronger than others and pull it out of alignment causing pain after awhile.

I've also noticed that the less padding I have on my shoes, the easier I can rail balance. We need shoe padding for all that concrete we walk on, but feet are meant to be exposed to different surfaces.

[Austin]

esp. bad are shoes with high ankle bracing. Very bad. That and flip flops. >_<

[djkccasem]

shoes are bad? eff that SHOES SAVE LIVES!!!!:eek3:

[lethalbeef]

I wonder how well you could do pk in those kevlar things that they talked about in that article.

[ANDREY]

Very interesting!!

I've read the article and learned that walking barefoot is healthier but what about the cold pavement, you certainly can get a cold from that. So I guess you still would need shoes like those "five fingers".

Dam it, I'm confused now. hehe

Gotta read more about this subject......

[Austin]

Hopefully we'll all adapt and have hobbit feet after a while. I'm working on mine right now. Got some nice hairyness going on. Now I just need to work on toughening them up.

[Zack Weldon]

i've been integrating barefoot training once a week into my regular training and I have found that my feet are feeling better, my parkour getting better, and even other little pains like lower back and everything else have completely gone away. I plan on doing even more barefootedness this summer =P hehe

[ANDREY]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Wn6nxiQszDM

May be I did not understood right but after reading the article I learned that cusioning on our shoes is bad and in this video they show the shoe that is called
MBT barefoot shoe which they show as the most healthiest shoe ever and it has cusioning!!! so could somebody please explain to me what is going on?????? :( lol

[Bagheera]

So who is trying out barefoot running or anything of the sort? I know you are, Ninja.

[NoSole]

Spoken truth. No shoes is much better for your feet, as doctors will tell you. The reason why they don't recommend it is because of hygiene issues. But more importantly, in our sport, it's easy to hurt yourself. All the same, I'm been inspired by Phil Doyle and have trained a couple times sans shoes. It's great feeling, but you REALLY gotta be careful. Bruises are easily obtained.

[Bagheera]

I've also noticed that the less padding I have on my shoes, the easier I can rail balance. We need shoe padding for all that concrete we walk on, but feet are meant to be exposed to different surfaces.

"Another important consideration is what types of surfaces we will be running on.

Each surface has different benefits. Soft, smooth, unlittered lawns, for example, are simply more comfortable to run on barefoot. However, soft, smooth, unlittered lawns, or rubber tracks, do little to condition the soles of our feet. But, they will help, to some extent, to strengthen the structure of our foot. That is the muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, etc…

Hard and rough surfaces, while not all that comfortable to run on barefoot, are quite tolerable IF we use good running technique, and keep our joints fluid, not tense. RELAX! RELAX! RELAX! These surfaces are great for developing and helping to maintain a wonderfully fluid, and relaxed running technique, which will help us on every other surface we run on. So, while it isn’t necessary to run exclusively on hard, rough surfaces, it isn’t productive to avoid these surfaces.

In the real world, you are going to run (hopefully barefoot) on all sorts of surfaces, dirt, grass, asphalt, concrete, granite mountain stream beds, hard packed clay, mud, rocks. While not all will be the most enjoyable, sometimes it’s the variety that we can take pleasure in. Each type of surface, helps us with different facets of our running, technique, strengthening the muscles, toughening the soles, or just learning to relax while running. Each surface provides a different type of massage for our feet. And therefore, I suggest not being afraid to seek out and run or walk barefoot on each of the different grades of surfaces."

-Barefoot Ken Bob

http://runningbarefoot.org/?page_id=455

http://runningbarefoot.org/?p=625s



Ive been running barefoot for alittle while now, and its great, my feet are stronger, my form is better, and its so refreshing to run barefoot, its easy because your feet feel light, and your feet FEEL! Be careful though. Your feet will blister if the ground is too hot and your soles aren't built up enough.

[Bagheera]

Spoken truth. No shoes is much better for your feet, as doctors will tell you. The reason why they don't recommend it is because of hygiene issues. But more importantly, in our sport, it's easy to hurt yourself. All the same, I'm been inspired by Phil Doyle and have trained a couple times sans shoes. It's great feeling, but you REALLY gotta be careful. Bruises are easily obtained.


Ya, I can't even imagine the possible injuries from doing parkour barefoot.

[Zack Weldon]

Up until my foot injury I was running at least 2 days a week barefoot. Ill be back to it as soon as Im healed!! (cant wait)!

[palu]

I've been doing a lot of barefoot running in the woods around my house. I've been integrating Naturale Methode into my parkour weekly routine. It's nice to be able to run barefoot and climb trees and rocks.... I'm not so big on barefoot pk though. It is a great feeling to be in full sprint in a redwood forest with your barefoot against the ground feeling all sorts of leaves and dirt. The way how one naturally curls his toes around holds is a sensational feeling. Barefoot running makes my feet smile. It's amazing in the woods.

[Bagheera]

Amen. I wish I was surrounded by forest. Nature is heaven.

[NoSole]

Nice addition GC. Good to keep in mind since most of us only like taking our shoes off on grass.

[dardar]

wait..................
this might be off topic
but

doesnt that mean 5.10 daesents are better than the 5.10 free runners because they don't have strong cushioning from shock and have a much more durable and stronger grip than the freerunners?

I saw Brian training with them at deanza collage jam (i think).

Comments?

[Dominic]

Well, the japanese had it right for days. I used to wear these when I was doing Taiko years back. they work well:

http://www.jika-tabi.com/shoes.html

[Bagheera]

I wish somebody made some durable well made tabi boots, shoot. I hate cotton. I want to run, pk, swim and hike in tabis. The search goes on...

[gkdrummerboy]

Shoes are not designed for walking, they are designed for protection. How careful you are determines whether you should advocate barefoot lifestyle, end of story.

[Corndogg]

I wish somebody made some durable well made tabi boots, shoot. I hate cotton. I want to run, pk, swim and hike in tabis. The search goes on...


me too! they do have those rubber sock things with the toes, theres a post on it here somewhere. right now im still liking asics onitsuka tigers for really thin, lightweight shoes...

[Bagheera]

I'm gonna try out my dive booties this Sunday. They dang comfy, have a good sole, are made for water lol. We'll see.

[Dominic]

Learn somethin new everyday, I gots teh greek toe.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morton%27s_toe

[Bagheera]

I wonder.... http://www.killerdana.com/killerdana/search2.asp?s_id=0&search_freetext=Wetsuit%20Booties

[Dominic]

Any room to breathe with those things?