Comments on: Is Running Barefoot the Answer to Runners’ Foot, Ankle and Knee Problems?

By: Cpl Kloss

Cpl Kloss — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 01:41:26 +0000

Hello! I am new to the research and trials of minimalist type running. I am in the US Marine Corps, so running is both pleasure, pain, and career. I have extremely pronated feet. My knees point inward due to flat fleet. My pelvic bone, and L5 on the left side are fused together from birth, while my right side is normal. This causes my left leg to appear shorter than my right due to my hips being misaligned. It truly throws the whole system off a bit. Several doctors, a naturopath and a podiatrist, suggested orthotics to correct the uneven legs. However, they seem to cause more pain in my knees, hips, and back. My feet hurt, but I would rather have pain in my feet(two parts) than the rest(5 parts). I started with just el cheapo from Wal-mart water shoes ($8) and ran strictly on a well established track. I noticed several changes immediately. First, my feet and ankles are quite weak! I had to focus hard on staying on my forefoot. Second, my knees, hips, and back did not hurt at all! I started small by running only a half mile. I still wear traditional runners on pavement, but every time I got back to traditional shoes, I get about 100 yards into any run, and my knees hurt first, followed shortly after by my hips and back.

So much like others above, I have little long term evidence, however the immediate results convince me. My feet will strengthen, distance increase, and performance like-wise. But damage to my knees hips and back will not get better by repetition, unless I listen to my body. God made it in such a way as to survive. From every aspect, breathing(automatic) the heart pumping(automatic) storing fat, burning fat, storing water, flushing water,(all based on survival and nutrition) even sneezing is a reaction of the body protect itself. Therefore I believe it ought to be assumed the body was built to hold its own weight naturally as well.

I will point out, that my second and third(from the big toe) toe’s are webbed half way up on each foot. I want to use Vibram 5 Finger’s but I am afraid that by design they will not fit my feet. Does anyone have suggestions as an alternative?

By: Dr. Nirenberg

Dr. Nirenberg — Mon, 31 May 2010 23:31:04 +0000

I am glad to hear how well you are doing with barefoot activity! You raise an interesting point about the Morton’s toe. Oddly, traditional podiatric thought is that this type of foot is less stable generally and generally more prone to increased motion at the first metatarsal (the bone on the inside of your arch that helps make up your big toe joint). I will give your theory some thought, especially in light of the foot being used for barefoot activity and running. Thanks for making me think!

By: Trevor Groves

Trevor Groves — Mon, 31 May 2010 06:03:22 +0000

I have run for over thirty years, a dedicated heel plodder until reading Born To Run last fall, and have now transitioned my form to that of a barefoot runner while progressively decreasing my shoe support. It has been transformational and on many long runs I have pondered if perhaps a Mortons toe is some sort of progression in the evolution of the foot. I think of other runners, many with hooves (a very stable landing and springing zone), the characterstic v, pointing sharply forward, symmetric. Could a long second toe create a functionally more aligned surface to run with? Is there significance to the second tarsal/metatarsal aligning seemingly centered under the subtalar joint?
appreciate any thoughts

By: shannon

shannon — Wed, 05 May 2010 03:08:47 +0000

I’m a runner with very high arches and rigid feet. In the past I’ve run a few half-marathons a year, and invariably would come down with severe hip pain while trying to up my mileage. This spring I’ve switched to the VFF KSOs, and after a month I’m up to about 4 miles, 4x/week. I’ve had the usual calf and ankle pain during my transition, but no hip pain at all. My biggest problem is keeping my mileage down – it’s so much fun to run in these shoes that I have to force myself to stop, knowing that I’ll hurt the next day if I push too far! I’ve also found that my pace is about a minute per mile faster with the VFFs than with traditional running shoes. We’ll see how it goes as I get up to higher mileage, but I’m cautiously optimistic at this point…

By: Dr. Nirenberg

Dr. Nirenberg — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:00:30 +0000

Generally, VFFs could be worn with forms of hallux rigidus, but I would check with your podiatrist first though. In terms of yoru surgery – why wait? Start wearing them sooner than later. Just remember, when it comes to barefoot activity, start SLOOOWWW!!!!

By: Kelly Verriere

Kelly Verriere — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:30:14 +0000

I have been battling hallux rigidus in my right foot for about 4 years. It has come to the point where I can only wear sandals and one pair of sneakers. I am very interested in the VFF’s as I am most comfortable in my bare feet. Is there any contraindication for these shoes with my affliction? I have enjoyed running in the past and have been basically injury free. I am naturally a forefoot striker anyway so the concept of these shoes excite me! I am awaiting a chilectomy to fix my sore toe- should I wait until post-op to get fitted for the shoes or can I get some relief right now? Also are they good for walking at a fast pace as well on a regular basis?

By: Mona

Mona — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 08:04:16 +0000

Thank you for the informative article! Just commenting to subsribe to the comments. I love how you respond to questions in peoples comments so interactive! look forward to reading more from you.

By: sh.

sh. — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 22:56:18 +0000

I have been running barefoot or in vibram 5′s for five months, and it’s great. I have flat feet, and tried running in the past and was told to stop because I almost immediately got a weird numbness in the ball of my foot which then turned into pain – as if there were a stone in my foot, right in the middle of the ball of my foot – and then I would stop running. I have had no such issue this time.
I started running barefoot or in moccasins if it was too cold for bare feet. I started on a grass and gravel track, then ended up buying the vibrams and running on grass, trails, gravel and asphalt. I typically go barefoot in the house, and anywhere I can in good weather, and in good weather I wear havianas flip flops or saltwater sandals if I must wear shoes. But now I run either barefoot or in the vibrams and it’s great. I have been injury free. I followed the iphone couch to 5k program (without actually running in a race because I see no point for me personally) and now run 3-4 times a week, about 3 miles each time, with or without the dog, with or without the vibrams, with or without music on the headphones, on the road, by the side of the road or on trails. It’s great. I have always hated exercise, and now, at 35, I am loving it.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:59:53 +0000

I recently just started runnning in VFF’s. I have flat feet due to falling arches a few years back. I underwent knee surgery (acl, meniscus) 5 months ago and rehab went very well. After my first run outdoors I came down with Plantar Fasciitis the next day. A few days later I was recommended the VFF’s and went out and got them. I have only run once so far as I had to give my calves a good rest after the first run but I can say that it has been a week and there has been no pain or signs of PF since the run. I also used to get lower back pain while running and can say that I did 4 miles in the VFF’s with absolutely no pain, I felt like I could run forever. Definitely a relaxing run. Almost feels like it takes the work out of running and makes it rather enjoyable.

By: Asim

Asim — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 13:03:41 +0000

I am 34. For the past 15 years I have had a mild knee pain on both my knees a few hours after I played football, squash or went for a run on the treadmill. I had been to two physios one of which gave me a custom made orthotic and said I had flat feet.

While the pain was never serious I knew it was causing long term damage, so I limited the amount of sport I played. But I still played sport up to once a week.

In the last few months I diagnosed myself as having chondromalacia by reading various articles on the internet – I had classic symptoms. I then started to do some quad strengthening exercises which helped a little. In the last few weeks the pain had gone in my left knee after exercise, but I still had some mild pain in my right knee.

A week ago I started to read about barefoot running. I changed my regular sandals and work shoes for a very thin soled pair of Speedo water shoes in which I took the sole out to simulate walking around barefoot. I stopped the quad exercises. And I started to run barefoot on my treadmill.

The two times I have run on the treadmill in the last week (barefoot) have been the first two times in the last 15 years where I’ve not had ANY pain at all in my knees after strenuous exercise.