I recently read two brief articles in the paper questioning whether barefoot running is a good thing over wearing trainers and whether running is a precursor to osteoarthritis? In my experience as a podiatrist both these are greatly dependant on whether the individual has great biomechanics to start with.
The basis of advocating barefoot running over sports shoes, is that trainers with thick cushioning shock absorbent sole shave a destabilising effect on ankles and knees therefore weakens muscles. Yes, there is a point here as many patients buy ‘ultra-cushioning’ trainers with built in motion control feeling they will protect and support them from injury, but end up twisting their ankles and tweaking their knees. If they have any ligament laxity or are prone to overpronating thick soled trainers could be contraindicated, but then the same applies to going barefoot, or wearing barefoot trainers.
In my opinion barefoot running is only for individuals like Zola Budd who have great, neutral biomechanics, or for light ‘jogs’ just to maybe exercise certain intrinsic foot muscles as part of an overall training programme. I have had too many patients who end up twisting ankles or getting shin splints when wearing barefoot trainers, plus they do look rather odd!
Now on the article regarding running and knees, based on a recent study which demonstrated no link between running and osteoarthritis. Apparently ‘couch potatoes’ have a 45% greater risk of developing osteoarthritis when compared to runners. Anecdotally, again this depends on how sound an individual’s biomechanics are to begin with. Yes, I agree it is better to do some exercise to keep knees strong otherwise they will become weak and prone to premature aging, but running if you have any rotational knee issues caused by poor foot alignment could equally predispose you to degenerative changes. I have observed it on countless occasions whereby patients have developed anterior or medial knee pain because their feet ‘roll-in’, overpronate and unwanted mechanical stresses are placed through the knee.
In conclusion to both articles we are not all designed to just go out there running. Professor John Brewer, of St. Mary’s University says that we are, but he is referring to the fact knees will adapt when put under stress, like many joints when exercised. He does though endorse the importance of wearing the right shoes, but does not mention getting your biomechanics checked out first to ensure you have the right trainers, or whether you need some orthotic support and control. So many lower limb running injuries could be easily adverted with simple rearfoot control of internal leg rotational stresses. It is amazing what a 4 degree rearfoot post can do; can’t attach that to a bare heel!
