We were born to run. We had to run to survive. We had to run to hunt. We had to run to get from camp to camp. All that changed eventually (we evolved), then concrete got invented. To protect us from concrete, the running shoe got invented. Now with the obesity epidemic we may have to go back to running to survive.
Running shoes are expensive and it is a competitive multi-billion dollar market. Surprisingly there is no actual evidence that the expensive running shoe actually help prevent injuries. There is plenty of theoretical information that suggests they do and should help. There is also no evidence that they don’t either (something the critics conveniently forget!).
Now we have the natural barefoot running community arguing for a return back to nature and that running barefoot is better. The supporters of barefoot running make some extraordinary claims for the benefits of barefoot running. But like the evidence for the use of running shoes, there is no evidence that running barefoot is actually any better than running with expensive running shoes. There is some evidence on the difference in the way we run with and without shoes, but none on which one is better. It intrigues me that the running barefoot community love to point out the lack of evidence for running shoes, but then fail to acknowledge that lack of evidence for what they are doing! That does not mean what they doing is wrong and that barefoot running is bad. It means that you barefoot runners cannot have it both ways when you quote research.
For example, there was this really bad piece of research comparing running shoes to barefoot running on knee torques. The research was totally demolished and has been shown to be meaningless. BUT, the running barefoot community have taken this research and trumpeted it about how running shoes cause knee arthritis (the research had nothing to do with knee arthritis). The story has been widely commented on in blogs and in the news media, but at the same time totally misreported.
What I fail to understand is why the barefoot running community will trumpet any research that shows running shoes might be bad without any acknowledgement of the problems or shortcomings with the research.
Are the blind? If they not blind they are certainly irrational and zealots.
I will always go where the research takes me, after a systematic evaluation of the quality of that research.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
“There is also no evidence that they don’t either (something the critics conveniently forget!).”
There’s actually quite a bit of evidence that running in sneakers is bad for you, and it’s been around for quite a long time. For me, the most compelling bit of evidence is the rise of various “runners afflictions”. Most of these, if they existed, were so uncommon as to be unmentionable. Take the ACL tear. Common today, it wasn’t even identified as a medical condition until 1974. The research was done at West Point, a place that’s had an active athletic program for a very long time. Why did the ACL tear suddenly become a problem when it did? “Runner’s Knee” similarly was first identified in the 1970s.
My own experience has been that my problem knee has gotten substantially better since I started running in Vibrams, and my shin splints are a fading memory.
I’ve spent the last 6 months since I read “Born to Run” doing the research. It’s out there, and it’s pretty clear, and my first hand experiences (and those of many others!) only reenforce it.
I’ve done my own research. I recommend you do the same, if possible.
Not every barefooter is trumpeting that study. Here was my reaction:
http://www.barefootjosh.com/?p=279
But your missing the point re proof: if I’m going to buy something, I need evidence to convince me to part with my money. If there’s no evidence that running shoes are any better than barefootery, why spend the money?
You’re never going to get the proof you’re looking for. I mean, define “better.” That’s going to vary from person to person. For some people, it’s “better” to destroy their knees than let anyone see their feet. Not my place to judge.
We can say that human beings got around without shoes until very recently in history. Until there is evidence that running shoes do anything other than encourage a clunky form, I’ll spend my money on hats.
@Tuck – please show me the evidence. There is NO eivdence in ‘Born to Run”. I suggest you re-read it with a more critical eye. Its still a good book and a good read but do you believe everything you read?
@ stew – thanks for proving what I said was right. If you actually have research evidence that shows I am wrong, please show me it. If you can’t, then you confirmed what I said was right.
@Josh – thanks for the intelligent response. I am not opposed to barefoot running. I just object to the way the promotors of barefoot running take scientific research and claim it supports barefoot running when the scientific research did not show that.
For example in that really bad peice of research I mentioned above, the press release that went with the study said something in the headline like “running shoes may cause knee osteoarthrtis”. Not only did the research not actually show that, but I came across a copy of the press release on a barefoot runners website and they had removed the ‘may’ from the title!
Can someone explain why they did that for? What does that say about the barefoot running community if they are going to be intectually dishonest in the way the represent the scientific research?
I did not link to any of the zealotry websites on barefoot running in my original article as they were so full of irrational arguments for it. I would be doing a diservice to readers if I promoted sites with such nonsense. The idea for the post came about after reading the responses on different websites to the research mentioned above and doing some research on anti-barefoot running. They have an obvious agenda and so do I – I go where the scientific research takes me.
@Josh – I have added your blog to my reader and look forward to your further posts. Some of the other barefoot running bloggers who are irrational and fanatical and grasp at anything nonsensical and non-scientific to support their agenda could learn from your intelligent and rational approach.