The newest twist in fitness footwear is going "barefoot."
More runners are slipping on shoes designed to simulate having bare feet. The
shoes, which are more like gloves for your feet, have individual slots for your
five toes and a thin rubber sole. They are designed for athletes who prescribe
to the barefoot running method, which many believe helps runners find their
natural stride.
Dr. Meisha Abbasinejad, a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist in
Fayetteville, says that's why she bought her first pair of the barefoot shoes.
It took time to adjust to wearing the shoes, she said. Her legs were sore for
the first few weeks but once she got accustomed to going barefoot, she said, she
felt as if she was getting the most from her workout.
"It just feels much more natural," she said. "(The barefoot shoes) conform to
your feet."
The barefoot movement gained a following after the release of the bestselling
2009 book, "Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race
the World Has Never Seen," according to the Los Angeles Times. The book
advocates running barefoot as a way to prevent foot and knee injuries.
What began as a small following has turned into a worldwide phenomenon with
companies such as Vibram FiveFingers specializing in the "toe shoes," as some
call them. If you've been to the gym in the past year, you've most likely seen
someone wearing a pair.
Kate Rivard, manager of RedPoint Climbing CrossFit MMA on Raeford Road, says
the shoes are so popular the facility has a hard time keeping them in stock.
RedPoint carries FiveFingers by Vibram, an Italian shoe manufacturer.
FiveFingers is the most prominent brand of minimalist shoes, though other
companies such Merrell have introduced similar "glove-like" footwear.
Rivard says the FiveFingers are a hit in Fayetteville because of the active
military community who enjoys staying fit and being on top of fitness
trends.
"They're doing really well here," she said. "Because there are so many active
individuals here and they've heard so many good things about them, and then you
have a lot of people who want two or more pairs for different activities as
well. So that makes it harder to keep them in stock."
Rivard owns two pairs of the barefoot shoes herself. She wears them for
running and crossfit training. The shoes are designed for different purposes so
she owns a pair for each the activities. Rivard said she was drawn to the
natural aspect of the shoes as well as the research that shows wearing the shoes
strengthens muscles in your legs and feet that normally don't get a workout with
tennis shoes.
"The shoes are designed to emulate your foot as if you were barefoot," said
Rivard, who bought her first pair about a year ago. "I felt a little
uncomfortable wearing in them in public at first. I just thought they looked so
goofy. But after I awhile they become so comfortable I just stopped caring. I
wear them mostly to work out."
Abbasinejad, who has ran six marathons, also trains as a fitness competitor.
She also was hesitant to the try the barefoot shoes, she said, because of their
odd appearance.
"Quite truthfully, I used to make fun of them," she said. "They looked
funny."
But a friend who encouraged Abbasinejad to run her first marathon convinced
her to try a pair. She has been hooked since and now owns three pairs.
"I like to be barefoot. I feel like I have a better control of what I'm
doing," she said. "It just feels much more natural. When I'm sprinting, I feel
like I get better spring. When I'm doing jumping type activities, I just feel
like I get more power."
Steffanie Hodge, a Spring Lake woman married to a Fort Bragg soldier, is
working with Fayetteville personal trainer Chris Kenon to get into shape. Hodge
says she bought a pair of the barefoot shoes because she is starting a running
routine.
"My husband got me started on these shoes," said Hodge, who is 20. "He was
deployed, and his platoon leader was looking at these shoes and she bought some
and got him interested in them."
Her husband, Nathan Hodge, was sold on the shoes after doing research and
learning that running barefoot encourage runners to land on the balls of their
feet. This action, Hodge said, helps to prevent shin splints and knee problems.
Since using the shoes, Hodge said, she has noticed that her calf muscles are
more defined.
"I decided that if I'm going to start running. I want to start running the
correct way," Hodge said. "They are the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn.
I could go walking for hours and not feel pain."
SHOES TO TOES
Want to make the switch? Here are some tips for transitioning from tennis
shoes to toe shoes.
For the first two to three weeks, run no more than 10 percent of your typical
running distance.
After two to three weeks, gradually increase mileage by 10 to 20 percent for
every couple of weeks
Stop if you ever start to feel pain during a run.
Don't run two days in a row for the first month.
Be sure to stretch before and after each run focusing on calves and feet.