Have you seen these crazy looking athletic walking and running shoes that look like a foot skeleton yet? They’re actually very futuristic looking, but they look like on me, who needs a lot of arch and ball support in my shoes, they would cause a lot of pain in my foot and in my back!

I’ve never tried a pair on, but I’d venture to guess these are the types of shoes that only certain people can wear who don’t need a ton of support when they’re either running, walking or doing a lot of physical activity. Especially the kind that involves a lot of jumping around and joint impact.

But are appearances deceiving?  Let’s take a look what these barefoot athletic shoes are all about and talk about it.

The idea is that running and walking or moving around otherwise is most naturally done in bare feet. The barefoot running shoes, most notably made by Vibram FiveFinger now, are based on the idea that this is the best way to work out, but they also add extra protection and cushion that you wouldn’t have if you were just strictly going bare foot.

These shoes literally have five separate toe slots, just like the footie socks that were such a novelty back in the day. They even have socks that have the little toe pockets as well, to go with the shoes.  This is why you look like you’re in your bare feet when you wear them, because each of your toes is outlined.

The idea is also that when in your essential bare foot form, you are also helping to train your entire body instead of “casting” your foot in a regular shoe with all the padding, rubber, soles, and binding.  They supposedly help to make your body sync up, helping to train the nerves and muscles to become more efficient due to the minimal interference of all the unnatural padding of a regular fitness shoe.

There is also supposedly research out there that shows we can run faster and farther when in bare foot form (of course with protection, but with minimal interference from too much material and padding in the way).  There is also some evidence that we may be able to escape more injury by running in this more natural form.

The shoe maker Vibram recommends that when starting off using their shoe, you transition slowly as there may be an adjustment period.  They do say that they have a sole that protects from too much friction or injury.  Is the barefoot running shoe right for you?  I suppose you’d have to try them out!

This is a question that gets asked a lot. Heck, it’s a question that I had until I figured out on my own that it’s after about a year of solid use for me personally .That is, if I’m using my running shoes to do what they are for – running – on a regular basis. My husband on the other hand, doesn’t use his as much so he could probably go longer and make it about two years between new running shoes.

You can tell when your running shoes are breaking down because they just don’t seem to offer the same cushion and support.  All shoes eventually break down, and if you are using them for a high impact sport like running, then you want to make sure you are adequately protecting your joints, bones and ligaments by replacing the shoes every so often so you can get better protection from jarring and injury.

I can always start to tell when mine are ready to be replaced, becuase even the sidewalls of the shoe just don’t offer as much support. It’s mostly about the sole and cushion of the shoe as well as the arch support, but a lot of it has to do with the surrounding nylon and support system of the shoes itself as well.

When I don’t have as much bounce in my run or step, and I’m starting to notice my shins or my calves are getting sore much easier after a run, then I know I’m about due to go out and buy a new pair of the best running shoes out there – which I still feel are Adidas Supernova Glides (not the 2′s!).

You should really feel like you’re running on clouds when you first buy new running shoes - never settle for less than that. If you’re an avid runner, you no doubt have figured out what shoe works best for you.

For decades, running shoes have been cushioned and designed in various ways to cushion and coddle our feet with many layers of rubber and gel.  The theory behind all of these layers was to be a kind of “shock” absorber for our arches, heels, knees and backs.  The traditional running shoe provides needed support for many runners and they should stay with them if it’s working well for them.

For some runners, however, particularly runners who have had frequent pain and injuries, these runners may want to look into a gradual transition into “minimalist” running.  There are some in the field of the science of running that feel that barefoot running, or as close to it as possible, is better. 

From the minimalists perception of running, the very padded and cushioned modern form of running shoe can actually contribute to running injuries.  Instead of shock absorbing for the body, modern running shoes allow the runner to land on their heels, which causes stress continually to their knees, hips and backs.

The trend towards minimalist running seemed to gain momentum with the book “Born to Run” that came out in 2009.  The athletic shoe companies responded to this trend by developing many different “natural” and “minimalist” designs of running shoes.  The best clothes for working out, and the best shoes, as we all know, can make all the difference in our workouts!

Among shoes designed in response to the minimalist trend for running shoes are the Vibram FiveFingers, the Merrell Barefoot True Glove and the Nike Frees.   The Vibram Five Fingers encase your toes individually and consist of just a layer of rubber to protect your feet and have no support built into them. 

The Merrell Barefoot True Glove is very lightweight at about 6 ounces and does have tread for slippery or rough surfaces the runner may encounter.  The Nike Frees are a balance between traditional running shoes and the barefoot shoes by offering just a little support for the runner.

Not all runners should make the change to minimalist running if they’ve been running in traditional shoes well, have good running form and have been pain and injury free.  Other runners, who have had pain or injury, may want to change to the minimalist shoes.

 The switch must be undertaken gradually or you’re very likely to injure a muscle or get a stress fracture.No matter what kind of shoes a runner opts for, they should be aware of maintaining better alignment while running for a better foot strike, landing on the mid or forefoot instead of the heel. This is a healthier running form, lessening the risk of running injuries or pain.

Stress fractures are actually easier to get than you think from physically exerting yourself for longer periods of time, or simply holding too much weight – whether it’s your own body weight – or carrying something that is simply too heavy for your bones to bear the weight of.

Stress fractures are quite common if you are a runner, do not wear the right kinds of running shoes, or have a good treadmill for running, which has a comfortable padding on it that eliminates or greatly reduce the bouncing and pressure that occur on the joints and the bones in the feet and the legs when you run.

High impact sports such as basketball, gymnastics, and wrestling can cause stress fractures.  Usually stress fractures result in a dull pain that seems fairly persistent in the area where you have hurt something.  They generally will heal on their own, but it’s important to know you have one so that you can know not to favor that side of your body, and to be careful and not make it worse.

They will heal on their own, but you have to make sure you stay off of them for a while, or at the very least, take it easy on that part of your body.  It is of vital importance that you replace your athletic shoes often if you do high impact workouts or sports on a regular basis.

This is because the soles and cushioning that absorbs shock breaks down fairly quickly. If you experience high impact on a frequent basis, this is especially true. You may even want to consider replacing your running shoes every  three to four months rather than the standard 6-12 months that most people follow who work out moderately.

It’s easy to go without even knowing you have a stress fracture. Many people may ignore it and think it’s just a temporary sore spot. We all get sore in certain places, but it always goes away.

If the symptoms are persistent or causing you a lot of discomfort though, you should really go get it x-rayed so you know whether you should continue with your high impact activity or not, and to consult with your doctor about any new treatment options.

Running is an excellent form of exercise, in my opinion. For me, in the summer, there’s nothing like taking a jog out in the fresh air, past the corn fields in the backroads by our home, and just enjoying the feeling of being free, and using my legs what they were meant for.

I’m not a big “runner”, in that I don’t do sprints, but instead take a slower gait and jog, but there are some times when I’ll sprint short distances and alternate jogging and running to really get my metabolism going. 

One thing you have to be really careful of when running, especially if you’re just starting out, is to protect your back and your joints from being damaged.  Running is excellent for you, however, there is a high risk of back and joint injury because it is considered a high impact sport.

To lessen the blow of the concrete or pavement on your joints and back, it is absolutely impertive that you get a really great pair of running shoes. Without good running shoes, you are putting yourself at risk for injury and discomfort. 

Excellent running shoes will absorb the shock of the impact every time your foot hits the ground, so you get a smooth, impact free exercise, instead of a jarring, potentially damaging exercise.

My favorite pair of running shoes right now is the Adidas Supernova for women.  I don’t like the Supernova II’s, because in my opinion, they were not as well cushioned as the Supernova originals.  They make you feel like you’re running on air.  They work well on pavement and cement.

Another way you can help ensure you are running without to much jolting and pressure is to run on a rubberized track. This may be hard to find, but if you have a high school near you, many schools are now turning to these tracks because they lessen the amount of injuries seen in sprinter and track runner.

They are a much softer and safer surface to run on. We have on at the high school near us, and although it’s hard to find a time when it’s not being used by their track or football team, it’s excellent on your feet and joints whenever we do find a free time for it.

Running with the righ posture is also absolutely essential to protecting your back and joints from injury or damage. Too many people run with the wrong posture, which puts more pressure on their joints, and can make the back and neck strain to stay straight.

Run straight up and down, but not so that you’re bouncing up and down too much, rather that you’re driving forward.