The Barefoot Running Book - Jason Robillard [11]
… long pause …
GV: “Umm … well … I’m afraid I’m not at liberty to discuss that matter.”
SAY WHAT!!!??
JF: “Mr. Valiant, in case you missed it, I’m NOT a reporter. I’m just an orthopedic surgeon who’s looking for some answers for his patients. Let me rephrase. Surely you have data to support the injury protection claims you make about your running shoes … surely sir … “
GV: “Well … I could refer you to our marketing people and I’m sure they could send you something.”
Nope. We’re not on the same wavelength at all. I’m sure the lawyers have given these guys a gag order.
JF: “Mr. Valiant, your marketing people send me stuff all the time; it’s all over the Runner’s World I get every month. Anyway, nice talking to you.”
I’ve also had a few chats with Dr. Steven Robbins. He feels very strongly that the athletic footwear manufacturers are painting themselves into a very tight corner by not acting on the available information. After all, it is within their power to effect changes in their shoe design based on the available data and in doing so decreasing the running injury rate by up to 55%. By not acting now, Dr. Robbins predicts the footwear manufacturers may end up in the same situation as the tobacco companies with massive class-action lawsuits brought against them.
Part 3—New Directions
So, what do we do now? For starters, NO, I do not recommend that you run your next half-marathon barefoot. But certainly, I predict that sooner or later, changes will come about in both shoe design and training. From the medical establishment’s point of view, the prevention and treatment of running injuries must change to incorporate the concepts outlined above. In fact I view the ideas I’ve presented here as a major paradigm shift in sports medicine, the likes of which I have not seen in the last fifteen years. Of course, the major shoe companies have to own up and start introducing better shoes into their lines. Why not do this gradually and introduce just one shoe that incorporates some of the recommended changes. Dr. Robbins is already testing shoes that use a thinner, less resilient midsole material that provides the comfort but not the impact absorption and of course has no arch support. I’m sure the marketing boys at NIKE could handle it.
Without being too radical, there are some changes that are worth introducing without further delay and they are as follows:
1. Young children should be encouraged to spend as much time as possible barefoot. We know that this is especially important for the proper formation of the foot arch in the first six years of life. So, moms, trash the WEEBOKS and let your kids develop strong healthy feet just as they were meant to.
2. Runners should consider incorporating sessions of barefoot running into their training. In an article in the October 1997 Runner’s World, Adam Bean gives the following advice: “Running barefoot a couple of times per week can decrease your risk of injury and boost your ‘push-off’ power.” You can run on any surface you like as long as you’re careful of sharp objects and pebbles. Soft sand is probably the least desirable surface because it is unstable and after your heel has dug-in, you will weight bear on your arch. Paved roads are fine and dangerous objects are easy to spot. But remember, your feet will need to toughen-up so start with small doses. Kick your shoes off as soon as you get home and spend your evenings and weekends barefoot.
Is it possible to rehabilitate the weakened muscles of a normally shod runner? It certainly is according to another excellent study by Dr. Robbins (1987). He asked 17 normally shod recreational runners to gradually increase barefoot activity both at home and outdoors over a period of several weeks and to maintain barefoot activity for about four months. The runners’ feet were examined, measured and x-rayed at regular intervals to detect changes. Results showed marked improvement in the anatomy and function of the arch. The authors concluded that the normally shod foot is capable of rehabilitation of foot musculature.