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Health & Fitness

Minimalist Shoes: All Hype?

Is the minimalist shoe movement all hype or substance? Here is what the research tells us...

In case you haven’t noticed yet, minimalist shoes are all the rage these days.  Popular among health practitioners, crossfitters, students, hippies, and hipsters alike, these shoes serve the philosophy that less is more when it comes to footwear. In fact, I own a pair of Innovate shoes that I use for crossfit and street running, and a pair of Vibram FiveFinger shoes that I use for trail running/walking, the latter being an item of clothing that my wife forbids me to wear in public with her because they are ‘ugly and weird’. Fair enough, but I’ve never been accused of being fashion-forward.

The idea is this: our feet are not evolutionarily designed to be in shoes. Shoes are a modern creation, and a recent one at that. I’m sure many ancient civilizations had some form of footwear, but those shoes were probably on the minimalist end of the spectrum, and evolution takes millions of years to play out, not a few thousand. The man-made creations that we see on our feet today are more style than substance. They create an artificial supporting base for our feet, but is that really better for us from a functional standpoint? I am arguing No.

Minimalist shoes mimic a barefoot posture and function that is much healthier for our spine & joints and more efficient when walking & running. When the foot is forced into creating its’ own arch (rather than passively molding to an artificial one) the muscles & bones can distribute the weight of the body in a much more equal way that is in accordance to how the foot was designed in the first place. This allows us to splay our toes, creating strength at the ankle while relieving pressure from the knees, hips, and spine. 

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Here is what the growing amount of research says to support minimalist footwear:

  • Takes pressure off the knees and instead absorbs it more equally in the ankles and feet
  • Reduces range of motion and shock attenuation in lumbar spine
  • Creates a mid-foot strike (rather than a heel strike) when running, which has been shown to be both more economical and oxygen efficient
  • May reduce running injuries
  • When running, creates a soft forefoot strike and quicker strides – providing increased proprioception (healthy sensory information to brain) and foot strength

The true test is to try them yourself and observe the difference in your posture, movement, and joint pain. You may not ever go back.

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~Noah Kaplan, D.C.

Dr. Noah Kaplan is an Upper Cervical Chiropractor in Walnut Creek.  He helps people with chronic health conditions get their life back without drugs or surgery.  

Learn more at www.AdvanceUC.com

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