Tiffany Dobrowski loves to shop for a bargain.
And when she found something that could improve her running stride, she couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
“Have you seen the shoes? They look like a second skin almost,” Dobrowski said. “They’ve got toes to them and everything.”
The kicks she’s referring to are known as minimalist shoes. Though they may look like they’re from a sci-fi movie, they’re actually a part of a new footwear revolution: barefoot running.
“The concept behind barefoot running is to develop a more natural, more efficient running style,” said Dr. Troy Smurawa, who specializes in sports medicine at Akron Children’s Hospital.
Many of us wear a traditionally cushioned heel, but Smurawa said for runners, that extra padding can do more harm than good.
“Produces more impact forces can cause more harm to bone, muscles and tendons,” he said.
After a recent injury, runner Verrelle Wyatt turned to the less-padded shoes to improve his stride.
“I’m doing a lot of therapy, icing, ultrasound, and it’s getting better,” he said. “But it’s not fixing the main goal, which is the weaknesses.”
The shoes have helped him prep to run in his first marathon this year.
Although the minimalist running-style is trend that’s sweeping the country, Smurawa said the footwear may not be the perfect fit for everyone.
“I have tendonitus in both knees and tore my miniscus,” Dobrowski said. “Barefoot running for me is detrimental to my all over health. But, it’s a decent concept. The idea of running as you were intended to run. It makes sense.”
Smurawa said it’s best to ease yourself into a new running routine.
And, before you shop, he said it’s best to consult a health professional to find the perfect fit for you.
“Just going out and buying running shoes, putting them on and running 50-60 miles a week like you normally do, probably is going to lead to soreness and even injuries because your body hasn’t adapted to that,” Smurawa said.
Who knows? When it comes to footwear, perhaps for you, less may be more.