Biomechanical considerations on barefoot movement and barefoot shoe concepts

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to discuss biomechanical considerations related to ‘barefoot running’ and ‘barefoot shoes’. Biomechanical differences include increases in external force loading rate, higher tibial acceleration, flatter foot placement, higher ankle joint stiffness and earlier EMG intensity for the tibialis anterior. There is indirect evidence that barefoot training strengthens small and large muscles crossing the ankle joint. Furthermore, there is evidence that barefoot running has energetic advantages over shod running. There is, however, no evidence that barefoot running would have more or less injuries than shod running. ‘Barefoot shoes’ include (a) the ‘Feet You Wear’ concept where the shape of the foot is mimicked, (b) the Nike Free concept where the kinematics of barefoot running are mimicked, and (c) the MBT (Masai Barefoot Technology) concept where the feeling of barefoot walking and/or running is mimicked. These shoes are based on very different conceptual ideas. However, all of them seem to provide a benefit to the athlete, independent on whether they are based on copying the shape of the human foot, the movement during barefoot running or the feeling of barefoot movement on soft ground. The name ‘barefoot shoes’ is a contradiction in terms. A shoe condition is not a barefoot condition. The discussed ‘barefoot shoes’ typically take one aspect of barefoot and implement it into a shoe. To assume that these shoes correspond to barefoot running or moving is not appropriate and the name ‘barefoot shoes’ may well be more a marketing strategy than a functional name.