This is a reaction to the recent findings of the Brigham Young University study regarding the importance of transitioning properly.

The word transition is now a commonplace term with runners, especially for athletes who have chosen to ditch the cushioned running shoes. The most likely journey is from jogger to unskilled runner to finally reaching the skilled runner.

But what does transition actually mean? In the context of running it is, as the dictionary definition highlights, the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another. With barefoot running there is definitely a physical change but there are also inescapable mental and social transitions as well. Read more…

Here’s a crash course in barefoot biomechanics from Lee Saxby. Lee discusses the practical reality of the biomechanics of barefoot running and the science that underpins skilful movement and natural human locomotion. Whilst at the same time acknowledging the importance of the story tellers of barefoot running, like the Barefoot Teds and the Chris McDougalls who deal with the emotional side of barefoot running. Read more…

It is over 2 years since a research paper titled “The effect of three different levels of footwear stability on pain outcomes” was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine by Ryan et al and summarised on Runblogger.

“The findings of this study suggest that our current approach of prescribing in-shoe pronation control systems on the basis of foot type is overly simplistic and potentially injurious”. Yes correct there was a study 2 years ago which concluded Gait analysis does not work and is potentially causing injuries. Read more…

Last night BBC1 aired the Panorama: The Truth About Sports Products. Shelley Jofre and British Medical Journal joined forces to investigate the truths behind sports products.

After unraveling the myths of sports energy drinks, Shelley Jofre focusses her attention on running trainers and the shoe industry that is dominated by padded shoes. Read more…

Galahad Clark, VIVOBAREFOOT’s MD, talks about the latest research: Foot Strike and Injury Rates in Endurance Runners and how this relates to barefoot running.

Running is a skill technique is everything.

Ryan Ford (of APEX Movement fame) and Dr. Kenneth Kao (Vital Balance Chiropractic) take an in-depth look at the problems with traditional running shoes, common injuries caused by shoes, pros who train barefoot, how to choose a good shoe, proprioception, pressure pad graphs of different footwear and how to start training barefoot. Read more…

Were we Born to Run?  Opinion on the matter is strong and the scientific evidence is building from strength to strength. Whilst we may have been born to run, the invention and subsequent widespread use of the modern, padded running shoe has rendered the shocking statistic that 80% of runners get injured every year. Read more…