How Barefoot Training Maximizes Results
Training with minimal footwear or barefoot is a concept that has been around for years in high level training circles.
They understood the benefits of training with minimal cushion or heel padding to maximize benefit.
However, mainstream fitness has gotten into the trap of using running or cross training shoes as the main source of footwear.
While these shoes do provide support for the food and padding to prevent puncture injuries, they do little in providing benefit while training.
Honestly the best shoes you could wear while performing exercise would be something that is going to provide safety of the bottom of the foot but little stability help of the rest of the foot and ankle unless you have a foot issue already.
By doing this you are forcing the foot, the muscles in the foot as well as the nerves to work as they were meant to.
When you force the foot and nerves to work, your balance improves, you reduce risk of injury.
Lets look at a typical running shoe.
The name of the game is support.
The more support the better.
When we provide as much support as possible to the foot in the form of a shoe, we shut off all the small muscles and nerves in the foot responsible for balancing the body and providing reaction, and movement.
When these muscles and nerves are shut off repeatedly and are done over time, atrophy or muscle weakening occurs.
When this happens the body becomes very vulnerable to injury; enter the ankle sprain, knee injuries, hip and low back injuries and even shoulder and neck issues.
So what are the best options for training.
Well, best case scenario is you train barefoot so that the foot can react to your movement like it was meant to be.
However, if you are training in a fitness facility, they may require shoes or footwear to be worn.
If this is the case opt for a flat soled shoe that provides very little support to the ankle and foot.
It is essentially providing a barrier between your foot and the ground that's it.
When you do this all the work is translated to the foot and lower leg to balance, react, and respond as the foot, its muscles, and nerves were meant to do.
Your typical running shoe will not allow the foot to move or react in the same way.
In fact a running shoe's job is to support the foot.
When the foot is supported, it is like a cast and the muscles and nerves undergo a weakening period while in the shoe.
This increases the chance of injury all the way up the body.
If you have a current injury in your foot of course it is imperative to get that healed before jumping into barefoot training, but know that cavemen and women didn't have to deal with ankle sprains or plantar fascia nearly as much as we do today.
They understood the benefits of training with minimal cushion or heel padding to maximize benefit.
However, mainstream fitness has gotten into the trap of using running or cross training shoes as the main source of footwear.
While these shoes do provide support for the food and padding to prevent puncture injuries, they do little in providing benefit while training.
Honestly the best shoes you could wear while performing exercise would be something that is going to provide safety of the bottom of the foot but little stability help of the rest of the foot and ankle unless you have a foot issue already.
By doing this you are forcing the foot, the muscles in the foot as well as the nerves to work as they were meant to.
When you force the foot and nerves to work, your balance improves, you reduce risk of injury.
Lets look at a typical running shoe.
The name of the game is support.
The more support the better.
When we provide as much support as possible to the foot in the form of a shoe, we shut off all the small muscles and nerves in the foot responsible for balancing the body and providing reaction, and movement.
When these muscles and nerves are shut off repeatedly and are done over time, atrophy or muscle weakening occurs.
When this happens the body becomes very vulnerable to injury; enter the ankle sprain, knee injuries, hip and low back injuries and even shoulder and neck issues.
So what are the best options for training.
Well, best case scenario is you train barefoot so that the foot can react to your movement like it was meant to be.
However, if you are training in a fitness facility, they may require shoes or footwear to be worn.
If this is the case opt for a flat soled shoe that provides very little support to the ankle and foot.
It is essentially providing a barrier between your foot and the ground that's it.
When you do this all the work is translated to the foot and lower leg to balance, react, and respond as the foot, its muscles, and nerves were meant to do.
Your typical running shoe will not allow the foot to move or react in the same way.
In fact a running shoe's job is to support the foot.
When the foot is supported, it is like a cast and the muscles and nerves undergo a weakening period while in the shoe.
This increases the chance of injury all the way up the body.
If you have a current injury in your foot of course it is imperative to get that healed before jumping into barefoot training, but know that cavemen and women didn't have to deal with ankle sprains or plantar fascia nearly as much as we do today.