BBC Science Reporter Victoria Gill’s article is linked to below:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8483401.stm

It describes research that came to the obvious conclusion that if you give a human the chance to take the path of least resistance they will take it, even if the consequences are a down turn in long term efficiency. Well thats my interpretation, but to be true to the article here is the opening paragraph:

Wearing cushioned running shoes may have changed the way in which many of us run, new research suggests.

Using slow-motion footage, scientists have discovered that experienced barefoot runners land very differently from runners who wear shoes.

The researchers showed that runners who have trained barefoot tend to strike the ground with their forefoot or mid-foot, rather than their heel.

At Balance we often talk about taking a long term perspective and discourage our clients from looking for the short term quick fix  (whether to be pain free without concern for recurrence, getting fit, getting strong, losing weight, making money etc) but as with all aspects of life its a lot more complicated when you think it through. So once you have read this article dont throw your trainers in the bin and hit Battersea Park for a barefoot 10k using the pose running technique – at least not straight away. There are several more possibilities avaialable to you.

Have a read and if you’d like to share your opinion or ask ours  get in contact with one of the team Paula (author of Running Repairs ), Mick Habgood (podiatrist and running orthotic specialist), Raph (an experienced physio in international athletics and many a “minimal shoe” runner), Frances (triathlon specialist and G-trainer expert) or Sian (currently researching MBT footwear at clinics across London). You can also contact Jonathan (the blog writer) who will happily discuss evolution, sociology, the weakening of human kind and how to prevent it! Send an email by clicking this highlighted link: Contact Page

Mick and Paula will be adding their comments here soon.

This a video I found on the Running Competitor website posted by a company promoting the G-trainer for weight loss and elite running performance. Forze like to say “Get Lean, Run Faster!”. Well produced piece of video and a nice explanation of how the G-trainer treadmill works.

Enjoy…

Running shoes get a thumbs down from various critics (taken a little of context to be fair). Mick Habgood, podiatrist, and running orthotic specialist offers an alternative view in response:

This is the original article published in the Daily Mail:
http://tinyurl.com/cerpyu

Asics running shoes and a very barefoot at Balance

Here is the alternate view from Mick:

Companies like those mentioned seem to create their idea of the ultimate shoe with the perfect foot in mind – A foot that is neither flat nor high arch, functionally stable throughout foot strike and not hypermobile through propulsion. Do we really need a battery powered cushioning unit that adapts after each strike? Do we really need a shoe with a midsole that looks like and mimics the plantar fascia? In reality, probably not. But we are trapped between marketing geniuses and companies that need to continue developing new concepts or they are at risk of becoming the next ‘has been’.

The principles of barefoot running are fairly sound and I’ll be the first to admit that if we never had shoes, I probably wouldn’t be doing what I do. The reality is that we have become accustomed to wearing footwear, our intrinsic muscles and ligaments have become weaker and yes, we have become more susceptible to injuries. But this doesn’t mean we should throw away our favourite running shoes, as an immediate change to running the same distances barefoot, will most likely end with in injury at a statistical rate much higher than any of those mentioned in the article.

The first trick to minimising running injuries is choosing the right shoe for you, and this is where the battle can either be won or lost. A shoe can have all the features in the world but if it’s not right for you, it will probably do more harm than good. For the consumer, purchasing the running shoe that best fits your requirements is a confusing process. Footwear companies tend to categorise their numerous running shoes as either ‘Cushioning’, ‘Structured Cushioning’, ‘Motion Control’ or as part of the newest group, the ‘Guidance’ shoe. The best practice would be to get your foot mechanics and running style assessed by your sports / biomechanical Podiatrist. However, if this is not a viable option, having your running shoes fitted by well-trained staff at a specialist running shop is imperative.

The development of barefoot running shoes has quite possibly made the footwear industry stand up and question the effectiveness of their own products. However, it’s important to keep in mind that some of these brands have been associated with the more fashion conscious runner in the past. Is this development their way of making a comeback statement to the running footwear industry?

At the end of the day, barefoot running is a good concept but adapt wisely as it’s not for everyone. The average runner is a weekend warrior who beats the pavement hard and heavy. Choose the most appropriate running shoe based on its specifications, not looks and if you are unsure, seek the answers from your running specialist.

If you want to share your views or let us know what you think, as well as emailing us you can join us on facebook – http://tinyurl.com/balance-on-facebook or Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/BalancePhysio.com

Although Asics are not the only running shoes we recommend we do stock a range of Asics running shoes for men and women because they are a company that puts design before fashion and we tend to find that a large percentage of our client’s biomechanics suit Asics trainers. Mick Habgood the running specialist podiatrist at Balance has his own recommended shoe list that he and the team use when the time comes to address having the right equipment in a good state of repair. We are exploring ways in which ALL of our clients can get hold of the shoes on the list quickly and easily in the right size!

Great video below on the evolution of Asics…

The Oregon Project, funded by Nike, was started by Alberto Salazar in 2001 to train America’s most promising young distance runners. Salazar believes in world-class coaching supported by cutting-edge facilities and technology. One of the Project’s key technologies is the G-Trainer.

Alberto Salazar, Director of the Oregon Project, talks about the benefits of the G-Trainer and how, as a cross training tool, it allows his runners to increase training volume up to 25%.

Looking at the calibre of athletes using the G-trainer for enhancing their performance and reading the science and rationale behind the equipment convinced us that with the innovation and knowledge in the strength and conditioning team at Balance we could really have some fun and produce results.