The Effect Of Minimalistic Running On Running-Related Injuries In Habitually Shod Individuals: A Review

Running as a form of locomotion has existed for thousands of years – historically the activity has been predominantly barefoot in nature with a more recent gradual transition to shod conditions. Substantial evidence from various scientific fields suggests that the human body may have evolved to run extensive distances; however, the rate at which running-related injuries are sustained remains alarmingly high, despite innovations in footwear. Consequently, there has been renewed interest in minimalist and barefoot running as a means of injury prevention. The purpose of this paper was to examine previous research on the effects of barefoot and minimalist running compared to modern cushioned footwear, and present the findings in a summarized report. Research indicates barefoot and minimalist footwear have effects on running form, peak impact force, and a number of common running injuries. Subsequently, these footwear styles may increase the risk of certain injuries. Because running-related injuries are multifactorial in nature, there has not been a decisive conclusion regarding potential benefits of barefoot and minimalist running for injury prevention. The opportunities for further research are plentiful as minimalistic running becomes more popular and additional data can be gathered and tested.