
Whether you are for or against near-barefoot running, one thing is very clear: A persons body will tend to stand, sway, walk, and run in the most metabolically efficient way to bring about the most amount of comfort in any situation they encounter. Specialized shoes and conscious changes in running styles has the effect of increasing energy consumption which, in turn, causes earlier fatigue. There is no one way to run! In the absence of pathology, your natural gait and movement patterns are the ideal method of performance for you!
Graceyfeet insoles allow you to move within your preferred path of progression but lower the detrimental ground reaction forces that travel through the plantar surface of your foot an cause you injury and pain up the chain.
They are the perfect compliment to any minimalist shoe.
Lieberman DE, Venkadesan M, Werbel Wa, et al. Foot strike patterns and collision forces in habitually barefoot versus shod runners. Nature 2010;463(7280):531-535.: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v463/n7280/full/nature08723.html
Miller RH, Umberger BR, Hamill J, Caldwell GE. Evaluation of the minimum energy hypothesis and other potential optimality criteria for human running. Proc Biol Sci 2012;219(1733):1498-1505. : http://lowerextremityreview.com/issues/may/biomechanist-challenges-idea-that-forefoot-strike-pattern-reduces-runners-injury-rate
FOOT CONTACT PATTERNS AND JOINT DEMANDS IN NOVICE BAREFOOT
RUNNERS BEFORE AND AFTER EXERTION
Hashish R, Samarawickrame S, Powers C, Salem G
CSM 2012 Sports Physical Therapy Section Abstracts: Poster Presentations SPO1100-SPO1125J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2012;42(1):A114-A124