Barefoot Running: Does It Prevent Injuries?
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REVIEW ARTICLE
Barefoot Running: Does It Prevent Injuries? Kelly Murphy • Emily J. Curry • Elizabeth G. Matzkin
Published online: 30 August 2013 Ó Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2013
Abstract Endurance running has evolved over the course of millions of years and it is now one of the most popular sports today. However, the risk of stress injury in distance runners is high because of the repetitive ground impact forces exerted. These injuries are not only detrimental to the runner, but also place a burden on the medical community. Preventative measures are essential to decrease the risk of injury within the sport. Common running injuries include patellofemoral pain syndrome, tibial stress fractures, plantar fasciitis, and Achilles tendonitis. Barefoot running, as opposed to shod running (with shoes), has recently received significant attention in both the media and the market place for the potential to promote the healing process, increase performance, and decrease injury rates. However, there is controversy over the use of barefoot running to decrease the overall risk of injury secondary to individual differences in lower extremity alignment, gait patterns, and running biomechanics. While barefoot running may benefit certain types of individuals, differences in running stance and individual biomechanics may actually increase injury risk when transitioning to barefoot running. The purpose of this article is to review the currently available clinical evidence on barefoot running and its effectiveness for preventing injury in the runner. Based on a review of current literature, barefoot running is not a substantiated preventative running measure to reduce K. Murphy Tufts University Medical Center, Tufts University, 800 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111, USA E. J. Curry (&) E. G. Matzkin Division of Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 75 Francis St, Boston, MA 02115, USA e-mail: [email protected]
injury rates in runners. However, barefoot running utility should be assessed on an athlete-specific basis to determine whether barefoot running will be beneficial.
1 Introduction Over the course of millions of years, the Homo genus evolved to run long distances as a means of survival. Endurance running required long-term thermoregulation capabilities in response to high temperatures and enabled hunters to pursue prey for miles [1–4]. Mechanical adaptations to store and release elastic energy also emerged to aid in endurance running, such as the Achilles tendon and foot arch. For many years, Homo sapiens’ ability to run was not considered evolutionarily useful or necessary. When compared with other mammalian sprinters, such as greyhounds, horses, and cheetahs, even the most elite human sprinter pales in comparison [3]. Humans evolved into endurance runners rather than sprinters and this allowed hunters to pursue prey for long distances. Although humans have been running for millions of years, the earliest records of footwear date back as recently as 40,000 years
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