Abstract
Barefoot running has seen a resurgence of popularity in recent years driven by claims of enhanced running efficiency and injury prevention as individuals continue to explore alternative training strategies to improve performance.19,62,65 This rising interest has sparked a significant growth of scientific research investigating the physiology, biomechanics, performance effects, and injury mechanisms of barefoot running. It has been established that footwear plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of foot and ankle disorders by creating biomechanical changes in force transmission, lower extremity position, and gait kinematics.11,44,46,65 Since the invention of modern cushioned heel footwear in the 1970s, there has been a worldwide proliferation of shoe manufacturers with claims of improved foot safety and injury prevention that have gone unproven. Despite previous discussions in the scientific community in the 1980s regarding the effects of barefoot running,6,16,28,59,60 there has been renewed mainstream media interest regarding barefoot running as recreational and professional athletes explore new training programs to increase strength and endurance. Foot and ankle injuries associated with running include stress fractures, plantar fasciitis, and ligamentous injuries, among many others.1,2 Specific causative factors for these injuries such as anatomic and kinematic variables are not well delineated or understood. Studies investigating the role of footwear in injury patterns report conflicting data
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