Foot Pain and Going Barefoot

Big Show

Having suffered from foot pain for most of the past 15 years and tried countless orthotics and insoles I have decided to give barefoot running/exercise a try to see if it improves my foot problems.

Having read Chritsopher McDougals excellent book on barefoot running and doing some of my own research, I think there may be some major benefits to going barefoot.

Has anyone else had any experience of treating foot pain with barefoot running/exercise?

MJHussey

Hi there. That's interesting about running to address foot pain. I would suggest that you should get a medical opinion before using barefoot running to address foot pain. You could have any number of issues (e.g plantar fasciitis, pes planus) that might only be exascerbated without correct treatment. Your local chartered physiotherapist would be a great person to consult-not only for appropriate exercises, but also in terms of having a biomechanical assessment. Hope this helps.

kipple

I know a couple of runners who are now running barefoot or with minimal type running shoes. It took one of them 2 years to make the transition.

So go slow or you will injure yourself.

YeahiKnow

Did you try it? How did it work out for you?

I cheated a bit and am currently in the middle of a long transition period from wearing shoes to going barefoot, by wearing Vivo Barefoot walking shoes. Although they have so many holes in them at this stage so Im pretty much walking on the ground anyway! (Reminds of those kids plastic cars that they drive with their feet, just for the sake of looking like you´re driving in a car, lol)

They have helped a great deal with my back and knee problems. Whenever I go back to wearing my regular winter-boots now they are even more painful to walk in than before(or maybe Im just more aware now), so theres going back for me at this stage.

RUCKING FETARD

MJHussey wrote: »

Your local chartered physiotherapist would be a great person to consult-not only for appropriate exercises, but also in terms of having a biomechanical assessment. Hope this helps.

I wouldn't, best avoided unless you have to use them-->like recovering from a car crash or something. Definitely stay away from those different sized insoles they pawn people off with, doubly if you have backpain/problems which can mess with your footfall/gait and def won't be fixed by an insole.

Lots of studies out there that conclude that the special cushioned runners take the force from your knees and hips and fire it all into your ankles.

How did people manage for thousands of years until Nike and Asics came along with there €150 trainers?

Disagree away....:pac:

opinion guy

I don't disagree.
I think the arguments that being shod causes problems musculoskeletal are fairly logical.
The problem however remains - I don't like **** sticking into my feet. It f**king hurts.
Therefore I think shoes/runners/trainers/whatever are great inventions and I shall continue to wear them

_Whimsical_

Ive had very bad pains in my heels in recent months when I've got up in the morning I'd feel crippled by them and they'd ease over the course of the morning. Someone recommended walking in my barefeet as much as possible to me for it and I tried always being barefoot around the house whenever possible and I can honestly say it's made a big difference. Not the same as running by a long shot, but just that much definitely helped.