The Barefoot Professor: by Nature Video

[@sbstn451]

I saw this video for the first time 13 years ago. Since then, I've been running barefoot or in minimal shoes or Luna Sandals. The work of Daniel Liebermann together with the book Born To Run by Chris McDougall changed everything for me. I am so grateful to have come across this ancient old wisdom. From sole to soul.

[@jpete3027666]

I used to get one running injury every year. The last 12 months I've been running in Vibrams and no injuries. I feel great.

[@K4113B4113]

9 years later what's your experience now?

[@SequoiaAlexander]

I've been watching a few barefoot runners explain this on youtube, but it is really nice to have a real scientific journal and professor explain it and show their research!

[@ajesusencounter8261]

Wow. This is the best explanation of heel strike vs forefoot strike I've ever seen, and I'm a cross country runner so I've heard of all of this before, it's just never been explained so well with graphs and such

[@jonathanangelilli]

awesome video! Love barefoot running. They SHOULD mention that you need to progress gradually from heel strike to mid foot strike to allow the foot/ankle to adapt! VERY IMPORTANT.

[@fregg1379]

thank you yes i was thinking about this. i had seen videos where they seem to be telling yo to just go straight into it but it just doesnt seem possible.

[@ryandiparisi]

Great point! I’ve heard this before. I really want to try barefoot running. My 17 year old son is a talented long distance runner but is dealing with an Achilles injury from last fall during XC season that he had to continually monitor for tightness. I wonder if his shoes were a contributing factor.

[@tankyankswife]

It makes an AMAZING difference to run barefoot or with VERY limited padding or whatnot. It is something you have to work into, or I have had to anyway! You have to build the muscles back up that you were not using when you wore shoes. I feel an amazing difference through out my whole body since I started the POSE method and with going barefoot!

[@michaelmyers9390]

watching people heel strike hurts my eyes to watch, ouch

[@eugenegrewing2587]

+Michael Myers Even when I wear shoes I try not to heal strike. But I wear minimalist shoes.

[@lumay333]

Maybe you should stop hurting your eyes and start educating heel strikers

[@DuncanKassel]

So, you are now a Vegan-of-the-feet.So many sub-cultures in the world nowadays.

[@lumay333]

Never belonged to any, just like to search for the root of the many health problems human race experiences now.

[@ichigokotetsu9540]

barefoot walking/running should be widely accepted by society, there are so many health benefits, and if you adopted to weather conditions right, you even can run barefoot in winter without problems, so, where is the point in shoes afterall other than comfort and yes, extreme conditions. Noone needs shoes in town, Noone needs shoes in a hike, not talking of extreme kind of alpinism, but just a hike, a run , go to the grocery store, all is comfortable and well, even feeling the ground is fun, and no the ground is not completely paved with pointy needles and sharp glass shards.. i would be totally fine barefoot. Also the feet toughen up so much that they're well adopted to the circumstances needed. Have fun.

[@podex101]

I started running barefooted about 18 months ago. It is a great feeling, the longest distance running barefooted, for me, has been about five miles. Being in the US Army I am used to running long distances in combat boots, but when I decided to test evolution, the feeling of something new (or old) and great came to my old soul. My body knew exactly what to do and how to run. EVOLUTION is never wrong!!!! It is a lot easier to understand evolution than to believe in a talking snake!!!!

[@jerimierothwell]

Okay I have been an avid runner since 2006. In 2009 I fractured me knee training for a marathon. I spent the next 2 years wearing knee braces, changing my running shoes every 6 months, and overall dealing with stress fractures. I switched to barefoot running in September 2011. I now can run the same distances with almost no knee or shin pain. Barefoot running is what your body was designed to do. Your hamstrings and calves act as shock absorbers for your body preventing injury!

[@L3theo]

Truth! I forgot my shoes one day and had always wanted to get into barefoot running. I ran 20 minutes and felt good the whole way. My calves were in pain for days afterwards. Totally worth it though!

[@DeanTheDoctor]

Stay blessed dear brother 😊🌎✌️

[@huddyhowell6469]

I grew up running and walking barefoot on all kinds of surfaces. I still do and never had a problem.

[@AL-jj8to]

@@stuckonearth4967 why does that happen I’m from Uzbekistan and when why cousin used to work in an area with lots of water his feet got busted open and he had to get needless in his back because of kidney problems

[@jmsmorley]

I swam competitively from the age of 6 thru high school and joined the military there after. Running has lately been foreign to me growing up. For over 15 years I fought aches pains and injury with all the running we do in the military. It wasn't until about two years ago I started running with 5 finger shoes. The body QUICKLY adjusts to avoid the painful act of running heel to toe. And I can for once say that I have been pain free since I made that transition.

[@CorinneMcbride]

what's your experience now?

[@jmsmorley]

@@CorinneMcbride i don’t run at all now. Back injury from the service makes it too painful. I don’t miss running on concrete but i do miss trail running in a pair of vibram 5 toe shoes.

[@ImHeadshotSniper]

i run like a barefoot runner because landing on my heel first feels awkward for me. this also lets me like spring forward very comfortably

[@emiliec4391]

Same.

[@bonswanger]

Thanks John; I'm an exSprinter, now running distance. I remember during Track workouts (in the 70's) we'd be training with the distance guys. I would not be quite recovered for the next 550; plus my shin splints were killing me. My body would want to run with less pain and I naturally started running with a lower profile and quicker turn over (like I did while sprinting). What relief that was. Growing up I ran more with shoes off than on. I think that instinct took over.

[@livefreeallways]

I've had the vibrams for a week now and I love them. Can't see wearing any other shoe at this point.

[@anantsky]

I think you meant Viagra!

[@Seby-biketrial]

great teaching !! it convinced me to go back to barefoot. i ran for months on high heel shoes and my knees hurt. i switch to five fingers vibram (i already had one pair but didnt run with it) and after one hour running i do not have any knee pain and it actually felt very fun, very pleasant running. The running was much FUN, felt better, probably because i had some feet massage as well. I had a 6 months period of staying near mountains and i would go for 20min run barefoot (no shoes) and i felt great, i never injured even if there were some rocks on the road. That is why i bought vibram 5 fingers some years later but still seeing only people running in high heels running shoes convinced me to buy same. After few months, even with top cushioning shoes my knees hurt every run after 50 mins. i saw some videos on barefoot running, why our feet arch is actually a spring and absorb shock. i thought hmmmm this is logical and when i ran barefoot i felt great indeed. So i grabbed my old barefoot shoes and after 60min of running NO PAIN in knees, no discomfort in kness. WOW! and barefoot runing felt amazing, it was a much much more pleasant feeling, it is a lot more FUN. thank you

[@samuelbekele3601]

Running barefoot is more fun and I feel like I am going faster... I am just afraid that I will step on some broken glass in my neighborhood.

[@lilyaretzy669]

samuel bekele same

[@safeinmyheart1]

I agree. I love the idea of walking/running barefoot (and completely understand why it is best for your body), but I’m distracted by the risk of injury from something sharp. I would like to have a thin layer of something between my foot and the ground.

[@CoolMaisa]

Take care of tetanus vaccine and learn to remove the glass shard if you get one, been there done that and it's not as bad as it sounds. Bigger glass etc can be seen easily, thus avoided, and smaller ones are easy to remove and don't do much actual damage. Small wounds heal quickly and they wont even hurt much if the foot has hardened even a little.

[@ashleyashleym2969]

ANd you might but so what???

[@Siberius-]

You can just get minimalist shoes (very low amount of padding). Also, make it a slow transition.. because you're now using that calf muscle properly for the first time, and in a new way.. along with a lot of other muscles.. so it's easy to overdo it. So take it easy.

[@DaNitheG1rL]

@36jcasa during a gait cycle, the heel strike on the calcaneous causes the impact and the generated forces to go straight up the kinetic chain, meaning it goes up the legs into the spine. Even though running with a forefoot strike first has more force, the foots arches are there to absorb and spread the impact across the foot, rather than the force just staying in that area. when we wear shoes, it limits the bones natural ability to move, spread, and adapt to the surface to minimize forces.

[@lorigmail1899]

John Peterson: Yes, you'll feel like there are knives in your calves at 1st! I could barely walk the first time I tried bf running. It feels so great when you're doing it, that you overdo it the 1st time. No matter how good a runner you are, you HAVE to increase barefoot mileage VERY gradually so that your calf muscles can lengthen. Good luck...don't quit trying...it is GREAT! I had a knee injury and thought I'd never run again.....Barefoot gave me back my favourite sport!

[@CorinneMcbride]

what's your experience now?

[@METALD00M]

this comment is giving me hope. started running a lot lately, bought some minimalist type shoes (which in hindsight should of looked into before purchase), and my knees are killing me. gonna start trying this, hopefully it'll work out.

[@eifersucht2]

@Col2109 It is possible to use a barefoot running style while in shoes. The only problem is that most running shoes have a very thick heel for cushioning. When you stand up straight in running shoes your foot is already slanted slightly downward and this makes it difficult to run with the proper foot strike (without landing the heel first). If you need some type of shoe but want to use a barefoot style (for terrain or weather reasons) then try racing flats without any insoles.

[@stateinkognito7531]

What he should have said was: "Last summer I was running one day and I just decided to take my shoes of and I found it was just incredibly fun. After a few mile though I got blisters and my calfs were destroyed from the diffrent type of stress on the muscle. It took months before i got completely comfortable with this new style."

[@CoolKoon]

No, your calves definitely don't get destroyed by running in a different style, especially if you've been running before. But since you're arguing for running on your heels, let me ask you: have you ever tried to jump, especially from a height of like 5-6 feet, right on your heels?

[@stateinkognito7531]

I am not argueing for running on your heels. I said: I found it was just incredibly fun but it took months before i got completely comfortable with this new style. In my personal experience landing on the front of my foot was harder on my calves and it took a lot a time to transition. But my knee problems has completely disapered and I am so happy that I went through blister-hell and sore calves. I now run better than ever. Then again this is just my experience and other people might have an easier time

[@CoolKoon]

+State Inkognito Hmmm okay, perhaps starting by landing on your toes while running in shoes would've been a good way to transition into this. I'm not surprised about blisters, everybody who never walked much barefoot would blister up.

[@DANIEL-ls5ku]

The reason why your calves will hurt landing on your forefoot is because you are not leaning forward enough letting gravity do much of the work.

[@DANIEL-ls5ku]

I agree after running barefoot for a while now my body had adjusted to its natural form, upright and light but still after running with shoes for years the body cannot just fix itself to its supposed to be its natural state it needs a little bit of help and just leaning forward is one way of adjusting the angle of your legs so it makes it easy to land forefoot. After a while it becomes a second nature that you would not really have to make an effort for it.

[@IppikiTaishi]

@BabmerChan It's just an expression for shoes with a fine sole (2 or 3 millimeters) no arch support nor cushion at the heel, to differentiate them from ordinary shoes with thick cushioned heel and arch support.

[@0HSOLEMIO]

Hi There, thanks for this great video. I have been walking bare feet for many years and now using shoes probably only 10% of the time. While I have managed to easily adopt landing on the front of the feet while running, I wondered if the same technique sould be applied to regular walking. I have tried it for the past week and I'm still a little confused or uncertain about it. What is your opinion? Shall we walk by touching with the front of the foot first? Thanks Daniele

[@hyperjas5]

@kvandendriessche get the vibram five fingers the Flow model uses wetsuit material so you can use them in the snow or cold water

[@baluza5216]

Once I didn't have my shoes available and went out bare foot on a short walk. It was not pleasurable at all but rather painful. It was shocking to realize how dependent on shoes I was

[@Tymothi]

@BrookeNelson1 Try the vibrams five fingers. The guy even has them on the table next to him during the video. They offer just enough protection that you don't hurt yourself on rocks, twigs, glass, etc. while running while still maintaining the feeling of running barefoot.

[@yukonnoka]

I have almost been arrested multiple times for going around barefoot in town. For some reason it seems to frighten people. We are such well trained consumers, the sight of someone running around without corporate products on their bodies really freaks people out.

[@auxin903]

i dont know anything about you or where you live but I'm willing to net its because being "barefoot" is associated with being Brown, and poor, and 'homeless'. As someone in the latinx community I know the stereotype of many latinas is that they are "barefoot" and uncultured, hotheaded and loud, etc... And then i have also seen how society treats anyone homeless - or who they think might be homeless. If you dont have a 'proper' appearence people think something must be 'wrong' with you and they let themselves feel threatened by that. ^So all together I would say yeah. Its those same attitudes at play.

[@taggartlewis6314]

Thank you, research on barefoot is not as easy to come by as I would like, I've been searching for how to strike as a barefoot runner and this was great!

[@bmp713]

Has anyone ever experienced numbness between the balls of your feet and big toes from running? What did you do to treat it? How long does it take to heal? I think running too hard down inclines for a few days is what caused it for me. Thank you for any ideas.

[@CharlesAltman]

It's amazing, I can not hardly believe it myself. It doesn't make sense, and you can describe it all day, but when you run barefoot you feel it. It took a few months of trying but now, I run distance barefoot style. I wear Vibram Fivefingers because I don't want to get hurt, but now I run totally barefoot on wood or even on a track. I feel a paradigm shift has occuered for me.

[@BrookeNelson1]

My running partners and I have been exploring/analyzing barefoot running. Our number one concern, of course, is that we may injure ourselves. But we're willing to try it, and have done some short work on a football field. I noted your NYC Marathon shirt, and I wondered if you ran it in bare feet. I ran it in November, and I can't imagine running that route without protection.

[@Jouwl]

@ripz0r That's what foot gloves are for. The most common example would be the product line of Vibram Fivefinger shoes. It's way more awesome to find a clean road to run on though.

[@Siberius-]

Remember for people crossing over to barefoot, or a shoe with WAY less padding: Make it a slow transition.. because you're now using that calf muscle properly for the first time, and in a new way.. along with a lot of other muscles.. so it's easy to overdo it. So take it easy.

[@theshermantanker7043]

This may not always be the case for everyone. When I ditched my shoes that fateful day I immediately saw improvements in my run and I guess my CNS adapted to the new running style immediately

[@Siberius-]

@@theshermantanker7043 - It can often be a case where they are fit enough to run way more than their newly used muscles are ready for. It's the weakest link that now needs to catch up. Or you risk injury or whatever. But yea that isn't the case for everyone, for whatever various reasons. I would at least caution people to take it easy at first, so they can test the waters a bit.

[@jonatanolsen37]

Yes, i run without padding with a forefoot strike now. Its way more fun, but my calfs get really sore.

[@Siberius-]

​@@jonatanolsen37 - Like a child again lol. My feet would need a lot of toughening up for that. Unless I ran on grass. At least you can have beast calves now. Which will make your running improve even more. More spring to your step!

[@whengrapespop5728]

Out of curiosity the other day, I checked a slow motion recording of Bolt running (with shoes), and I noticed he was not landing on his heels, but on the front part, as if he was barefoot. Fastest person in the world, too!

[@ZarlanTheGreen]

@oommen BTW, I seem to have missed mentioning that shoes deform our feet. Most notably, it crushes our toes together (mainly the big toe and pinky toe), but also the whole foot. Shoes are not moulded after our feet, they mould our feet after themselves. ...and wearing shoes as a child, means the changes are largely permanent and irreversible, without surgery. Unlike the reversible fact, that they make our muscles, tendons and ligaments atrophy and even weaken our bones.

[@LucidDreamer54321]

I have been running barefoot (no shoes) for more than 50 years (since I was a child old enough to start walking and running). I didn't know I was a pioneer, I just thought I didn't like wearing shoes. I even ran barefoot in the military when we did our annual physical fitness test. It was the only time I could get away with being barefoot while on duty. : - )

[@CorinneMcbride]

what's your experience now?

[@LucidDreamer54321]

@CorinneMcbride More than 50 years.

[@lavalizard3]

I haven't worn footwear outdoors since March, except for the days when the pavement is hot enough to cause injury. I love being able to feel what I'm stepping on, and I also love to feel my feet growing tougher and stronger all the time.

[@v.g.7324]

I've been walking barefoot all my live, whenever possible. At home, in the garden, I'm known as the one who will at some point walk barefoot on partys in friend's backyards or walk home barefoot. So naturally whenever my pace is faster than walking speed my heels never touch the ground. No science needed to find out that landing on your heels while running is A uncomfortable and B less efficient. I'm far from being an experienced runner and think I went jogging like twice in my live, but still, whenever I see one of those heelstrikers panting around the neighborhood I can only wince. It's like watching a car trying to drive with square tires.

[@GonzoTehGreat]

Neutral shoes assume that you have a properly developed arch and hence can pronate normally. They typically provide cushioning against impact with hard surfaces (since we tend to run on concrete a lot) or for heavier runners. They sometimes also provide some support as this may be needed for x-country or trail running. If you are happy with your shoes and free from injury the general rule is not to change things. If you are unhappy it's best to visit a specialist (running) shoe shop for advice.

[@rikmeester]

Does this also account for walking?

[@FREE_WILL_AAHhhhhhhhhhhhh]

only if you wish to reduce knee, hip, back and foot discomfort in your life.

[@anantsky]

If barefoot running is good then certainty walking should also be good.

[@possomtube]

Awesome. I've been contemplating buying the VFF recently. I'll have to give this a try!

[@cap-hi8ic]

i want to become a barefoot runner but im also afraid of becoming a poop stomper!

[@DangerDavez]

minimal shoes. Vibram, Newton, Vivo, Innov8, Merrel and even Nike make some. Probably others too.

[@MamaEvaUSA]

Being barefoot, you become more mindful of the ground, what’s on it, and what to avoid. Also if you do stomp on do-do, it washes off.😏

[@Siberius-]

Yes, minimalist shoes (very low amount of padding). Also, make it a slow transition.. because you're now using that calf muscle properly for the first time, and in a new way.. along with a lot of other muscles.. so it's easy to overdo it. So take it easy.

[@Viralclown]

It spreads evenly between your toes.

[@chavsnaps]

Harder to wash it from the creases in shoes than off your foot.

[@ports03801]

In response to 36jcasa. I think what they are saying is the initial "impact" forces are much smaller in a forefoot strike, not the overall forces, which are pretty equal. By landing on the forefoot you do not have that initial "strike" force and immediate loss of kinetic energy. The initial spike in force for the heel strike looks like it hits about 1.85 x body weight, where as a forefoot strike has a slight bump of about 0.25 x body weight and then gradually increases. Listen at 4:00.

[@barefootalex]

Have had the opportunity to meet the Barefoot Professor. Great guy. Very easy to talk to. Thanks for sharing this knowledge.

[@ConnectYourBody]

Great analysis of barefoot running. Thanks a lot! 🙏🏻 I run myself a few times on barefoot and feel this joy!

[@DivineZeal]

great video, i am barefoot now

[@jakewhaat]

@silentserv3r not necessarily, most modern running shoes have a heel built up as to promote a heel strike.

[@ramseysraw]

Barefoot walking/running = Total Awareness

[@CarlosAllNight]

Awareness of what?

[@cauecardoso88]

of life/the world/reality.

[@1256778]

As a barefoot runner I can explain... When you're running, your mind have to really focus on every strike you land on your foot, whether it's hitting to hard or landing on a pebble... Your feet gives response to you, you react accordingly. I think that's the "Awareness" Ramsey is speaking of...

[@TheSwiftblad3]

good answer my friend

[@MyGoogleYoutube]

There is a reason the foot has so many nerve endings. It makes zero sense to wrap a prophylactic device around them to dull them. Nobody likes wearing a prophylactic.

[@vanderzeezac94]

A shoe can easily change your running gait. If you have a high amount of heel to toe drop it can make it more difficult to land towards the fore foot. Also shod running tends to block a lot of the feeling you have with the ground making it more difficult to pin point where you are striking the ground. You are correct in saying that shoes aren't the cause of bad form but they can prevent a person from learning proper form. That why we now have thinner, zero drop shoes.

[@chenjerry1015]

Why heel strike make 2.4x body weight ,but fore-foot strike make 2.6x body weight ?

[@michalvalta5231]

Better spring effect...

[@FREE_WILL_AAHhhhhhhhhhhhh]

the muscles of the foot aid in deceleration of mass before impact.

[@FREE_WILL_AAHhhhhhhhhhhhh]

like a suspension system for your car

[@svele555]

I agree totally with this thesis about running, it seems natural, but we really can't apply same technique for walking right? Do we need that initial heel contact while walking?

[@najeyrifai1134]

Unfortunately I live in a city where kids think it's hilarious to smash glass into tiny shards on the pavement. So original, where do they come up with this stuff. Nearly as funny as stealing roadsigns, or happy-slapping.

[@mstu8097]

I think the idea is not necessarily to run barefoot all the time, but to at least be aware of your running form, and maybe, transition gradually to shoes with lower heel to toe drop and avoid traditional heavy cushioned shoes so that you can mimic the barefoot running style even when you're wearing shoes.

[@EquilibriumState]

Daniel Lieberman really helped create a good trend. Even though he has not yet put forefoot step walking into his life ;)) Still a huge asset in getting people started ;) best wishes Dirk

[@AbsurdAsparagus]

walking is diferent

[@jrgiggulden]

This seems to be sending mixed messages. In the heel strike video the max force is 2.43x body weight and in the forefoot strike video it is about 2.64x body weight.

[@livinagoodlife]

It's not about how much weight is being carried. It's about the impact force differences.

[@jrgiggulden]

The scale is multiples of body weight so the force is proportional to that.

[@livinagoodlife]

Again. its about impact.

[@jrgiggulden]

There is still more force in the forefoot strike! It is more spread out, so there isn't a spike, but it is a force-time graph not a momentum-time graph so the time doesn't make a difference.

[@eugenegrewing2587]

+Iggý Iggulden Didn't they use two different people? Maybe one person just lands harder than the other.

[@livingcommunities]

@emerald7teen what you are ignoring in your analysis is that running shoes are designed with large heels to cushion from the shock of running but this actually forces a heel strike and which means more shock than running barefoot. As a sprinter in my youth my coach taught me to run on my 'toes'. This was easy to do in slim sprinters shoes but now I am running distance it is virtually impossible to do without feeling uncomfortable in standard running shoes. A pair of 5 fingers has fixed that.

[@MyGoogleYoutube]

You need out shoes because you heel strike. But you heel strike because you wear our shoes. A multi billion industry was born.

[@TortoiseRake]

You're not going to step on stuff if you look with your eyeballs.

[@michalvalta5231]

So running requires feet AND eyeballs...

[@crisbowman]

@@michalvalta5231 Nah, but running safely and cleanly does. Idk, stepping on wet sand or mud feels great, just don't kick it on other people nearby.

[@Dbeststuff]

Lol you cant constantly look down at the ground while running to avoid and jump around stuff lol

[@toasted_mello]

@@Dbeststuff I can and I do

[@SimplicityForGood]

Zoe Smith ya, and you ran right into me last week you blind fuck! 😂

[@FREE_WILL_AAHhhhhhhhhhhhh]

running with fore front impact allows muscles in the foot to absorb the impact vs bone on bone column loading all the way to the spine.

[@23rjay]

Yeah, I'm always having to remove sharp screws from my shoes.

[@bennettperry93]

RJay Hansen nails and broken glass, too.

[@St3veWK]

These 2 comments are 9 years apart....lol

[@alex49952012]

I think something that's not being mentioned is the impact force being applied on your foot when landing on the ground. Overtime bones have to be strained or stressed after being exposed to so much impact. I'm assuming improving your form is your best option.

[@SemFronterias]

I don't even touch my heels on the floor.... Only the forefoot.

[@wyattb3138]

SemFronterias that’s the trick

[@TlMPPA]

@SkylarRuloff when walking the heel hits first, but if you have to choose between fast heel walking, and slow forefoot running then go with the forefoot running

[@zippolighter3632]

You don't need to be barefoot to run forefooted though.

[@omikronweapon]

+zippo lighter (zippy) please don't use logic and intelligence to undermine research. It's very discourteous and true.

[@DangerDavez]

True but the typical cushioned shoe now would force you to take a very aggressive forward angle which is not ideal for posture and makes it very difficult at lower speeds. Minimal shoes with zero drop are a very good compromise in that they enable you to take a natural running stance while offering some protection and grip.

[@greghansen38]

I've been working on that. The traditional trainer makes it hard to know if you're doing it right or wrong, because heel striking feels fine and forefoot striking feels awkward. And people who aren't used to barefoot running can still screw themselves up in minimalist shoes because some of them are still not doing it right. But when you run truly barefoot it just happens. At the very least, I think it can be a useful training tool, or a learning tool.

[@ashleyashleym2969]

Yeah but its a lot harder to run properly with shoes than bare foot.

[@Bl3ss3dburrito]

Very true. They make cushioned zero drop shoes that make it easier.

[@stoidipukeaw]

@garylp3 According to a study, shoes costing $95 or more have over twice as many injuries as shoes that cost less than $45.

[@vicdoza]

I wonder what this professor thinks of the vibram five finger shoes company having to settle and pay, i personally think that barefoot is the best but when you need a little extra protection then those type of minimalist shoes are the best, and its just another example of frivolous lawsuits paying off.

[@zaegirs1]

I had the same experience but as you gradually work up your calvemuscles things get a lot more interesting

[@ganotradinesh]

Its fun to see that at the end of the video , an advertisement pops up selling shoes!!

[@YoAddicts]

In case you're not trolling: It's not an advertisement. That's a magazine from Nature, one of the most prestigious publishers of scientific journals in the World.

[@diTaykan]

@xcracer321 Shoes were made as a protection against the environment, and most ancient shoes had thin, flexible soles. If anything, they were most likely to keep the foot warm in cold environments (which is why many of the most ancient shoes found have been stuffed with grass as insulation) or to protect them from sharp rocks or very hot ground. Also, some earthen surfaces in Africa can be as hard as cement, particularly in the dry season. Shoes were not made because of roads.

[@CoolKoon]

All these people running while hitting their heels make me wonder: how the hell do they jump? By landing on their heels? Man, that would not only hurt, but also leave a few bones cracked.....My guess is that they never jump......

[@eleo_b]

Jumping is probably just a different activity for us? I’m a “normal” runner, I don’t even really know whether I’m a heel striker, but I have regular running shoes and have never had injuries. I probably make a different movement when jumping. And no, I don’t jump all the time. Only when I need to jump.

[@riceowl42]

@Yrhp8268 You may be experiencing pain because the muscles in your legs and feet that support the forefront strike have weakened because you have been using a heel strike. Start with shorter distances and build up.

[@bigfatfoot]

When he said he enjoyed it when he took off his shoes to run, I could relate to that . That was what I felt when I took my shoes of to run with my fore foot. Only those people who actually do that will understand what that enjoyment is.

[@Tomasmoravia]

Why barefoot? Imagine you are born with a feet (Yay, some people are not tho..), then you put them into a splint/corset. So now your feet are shaped as your shoes. Congratulation, you now have crocked feet and chronic back-pain. Have you ever seen a foot that have never met a shoe? I have seen some pretty nasty deformed feet. Not to mention that your body disposes of waste by feces but also using the dead skin on your feet. Yet we let it rot in the shoes and wonder why we are so ill. When you travel barefoot your feet are smooth and soft. Plus you get free massage every time you go out.

[@johonanandrewgomes7593]

I lived in Sri Lanka and I ran bare foot and I was faster bare foot than running with shoes

[@Tomasmoravia]

Johonan andrew gomes Yes you can run pretty fast bare foot but not immediately after you get out of your shoes for the first time :D Have a nice day in Sri Lanka I bet it is great there.

[@johonanandrewgomes7593]

+Tomasmoravia now I live in canada

[@ferdinandrelampagos9208]

Yeah tru

[@David-vq3se]

I love Vibrams! Although expensive, they give you the feel of running barefoot with the protection of shoes. I'm barefoot running in Provo, Utah!

[@KingJorman]

I find that a bent knee directly underneath the pelvis on impact is the best way to reduce impact problems. I notice the doc locks his knee in the barefoot examples.

[@amrobidoux1]

I have been running the Chi method,forward landing not heel striking for 4 years,the probelm is the shoes,they don't let you land easily on the ball of the foot.New Balance model 800 and 801 allow this and the Newton running shoe also do .They are a pleasure,I am running my 1st marathon this May,I just post a new blog arthurrobidoux,( 1/20/2010), may, not be up yet,it could take up to a month to access,but I discuss many running concepts and other ideas

[@swthelostarchives]

As a kid I was taught to only run on my forefoot when sprinting but over the years I found it more comfortable and less painful to jsut walk and run on my forefoot as well as when I sprint. My joints feel amazing, they don't crack nearly as much and my warmup exercises aren't as long I feel because my legs have already been activated all day.

[@volapuk49]

Really great video. thanks. I want to do this but my left ankle collapses in internal rotation with strike of foot. I will do it slowly at first and see what happens.

[@Presence_o_Mind]

@belacoz Socks move around too much bela. You're essentially creating way too much friction with the socks and eventually they can end up bunching up or even ripping apart on you. If you're worried about feeling the surface of the road on ur feet, grab yourself a pair of vibrams or huaraches (the tarahumara style sandal) to protect the soles of ur feet from the elements but ease into the style of running slowly like anything else you would try for the first time. Hope this helps.

[@davidjohnston2821]

5 years ago I stopped running completely due to knee pain. I started barefoot running 3 years ago and have since continued to run 8-10 km a day 3-5 days a week.

[@medman36]

@tgeliot and aramilalpha: both answers I think are part of the hypothesis mentioned in the video. It is the repetitive "peak force" or "shock force" that causes many softtissue injuries when running. There is a theory that bones and joints tolerate gradual force exposure to "peak force" better than "shock force". This is also important to answer the question of running and early onset arthrosis. I think we will walk&run differently in a few decades if the hypothesis holds true!

[@anural25]

I watched "David Attenborough - African Kalahari Desert Kudu Persistence Hunt" after reading your comments. Thanks. That bushmen runner who tracked the kudu to the end, wore shoes!

[@anantsky]

I had minimal exercise for the last few years. I started walking in the park with shoes to get something going. The 1st few days of walking for 1 hr I did not feel much tiredness. The day i walked without shoes all muscles of my body felt tired the entire day and i got the best sleep that night.

[@macedmatt]

@TaraBara27 try using the vibram five finger shoes, their like foot gloves

[@jokergd]

@hummingfrog yeah, there's a different japanese company injinji which has been selling toe-socks for a very very long time, they work great with the five fingers, and are essential in cold weather. they also help great to prevent blisters/skin rubbing the whole purpose of the toes, is so that you can use your toes for additional stability as nature/evolution intended... it's not an attempt at some gimmick if you've ever seen bunions, those are made from wearing constricting shoes

[@easierdailylife]

Wow Running bare foot can be a nice impact on the foot--- i wonder what if force delivery is-- have a great run

[@doubleds200]

@echoplex89 I first started hearing about running shoes back in 1970 when the first running shoe was introduced and now I guess its a fan-boy movement. bare-feet are: 1. lightweight 2. no heel to toe drop 3. room for spreading toes (no restriction at all in fact) 4. arch designed with bowstring quality that allows arch to collapse and then spring back whats so bad about that?

[@ashutoshbhakuni303]

Great video. But i have a question- if u look at the values of the peak force compared to body weight shown in the graphs for heel strike Vs fore foot strike, the value is lower (2.4x) for heel strike compared to fore foot strike (2.6x). Why is that so? My understanding is that fore foot strike is better because the rise and fall of force exerted is gradual (like a sine wave) and not sudden (like a square wave)..but the persons in the video say that forces are less in fore foot strike which is not what their graph values show.

[@morrylauder7534]

I wonder about thicker calluses. I live on Guam (for the last 50 years anyways) and go barefoot most of the time. I grew up in Southern California and usually went barefoot or wore flip flops in the summer . Now the only time I wear real shoes on Guam (retired teacher) is at the gym, because it is required, and funerals when I'm a pal bearer. Anyways, walking on coral, sand, and rock trails has made my pads softer and spongier, better able to absorb sharp objects, not tougher. Ever wonder why one third of human bones are located in the feet? Upright walking? Anyways, our feet (unless strapped in casts, like shoes) respond to pressure and pain and almost instantly shift to better angles for less pain and better balance.

[@kwjw89]

@footkinetics I dont believe in the EVOLUTION stuff too. But the facts are indeed true that heel striking causes a a spike in the impact of the foot on the ground. I am Airborne trained and the landing technique is similar in such that you dont land dead straight into the ground but "Roll" to reduce impact.

[@DaNitheG1rL]

My gait is messed up to begin with, i heel strike with my entire heel instead of in a supinated position my forefoot then supinates, then pronates and stays pronated for too long during toe-off. I have a slight genu varum in left leg with a squinting patella which is painful so i stay supinated when standing. This caused tendonitis in Peroneus brevis and longus. I only get on the treadmill or elliptical, dance or tumble barefoot, and I haven't needed my brace yet.

[@chibinyra]

I wish I had figured this out by 8th grade track... Thanks for all the heat and time graphs and slo mos! =o)

[@VolcanicLioness]

@MochiNyoki When a person continues to run barefoot for a certain period of time they develop calluses that protect the skin of the bottom of the feet from getting infected. I have been barefoot running for like 7months now. I stepped on a big shard of glass that was pointing upwards while I was dancing barefooted at a club once. I broke the glass and it didnt even penetrate my foot.

[@Tokoroegao]

@MartijnZuiderduin Thats why now there are so called "barefoot shoes" like the Vibram fixe fingers. It's to protect the foot from stones, glass, rough surfaces while allowing all natural motion.

[@mclrk]

Was the heal strike impact analysis done with a shoe on or off? In the video the heel strike was shown with the shoes off; this would bias the results. the barefoot/forefoot impact analysis needs to be compared to the heel strike with running shoes in order to make the conclusions drawn in this video.

[@TheyRiseBand]

Though I'd never run completely barefoot in the city (never know what's on the ground), I do run in this style, in a pair of Vibram/Merrell Road Gloves. Love it, though it did take some time for my legs to adjust.

[@longtalljay]

I have been watching barefooting since it was a trend and since this video came out. I had just happened to buy an unintentional barefoot shoe in Feb 2010 from Power by Bata, India. I loved that and it lasted a year. Next year, I also applied for a PhD in exercise with an Australian professor who was researching this. Today, on Sep 3, 20204, I started running without shoes again. Loving it. Wonder where this prof stands now on this, given that the trend is long over. Also, this theory of us being "born to run"--what's the status of (pre)History research on that?

[@shebalynnx]

@rhiiiannoN No, not to late to start again... I'm not a doctor nor do I play one on tv..... I have Plantar Fasciitis, which is related to heel spurs. Barefoot running is helping me heal. I would recommend (remember I'm not a doctor) just a few minute run, then slowly add time to your run. I did my first 4 mile run tonight... no barefoot because it is cold but in Vibrim Five Fingers. Barefoot is my favorite though. Good luck.

[@tgeliot]

FWIW, last summer my son got me running barefoot, and I did so until it got cold enough that I could no longer feel my forefeet :-) I was impressed at Lieberman running next to snow banks.

[@Doyle251]

@bluefooteddoobie hey from what I've read thats fine, but it will be much harder to change your running form. When you run barefoot you naturally change your running form in order to lessen the impact. When you have a running shoe on your body doesn't react as well to the impact.

[@SquaredCircle777]

Excellent information here! Just got a pair of Vibram Five Fingers so I can be "barefoot" anywhere. I have a question though, should I be utilizing a forefoot strike even when I'm just walking?

[@ZarlanTheGreen]

@kireki "wow i just tried the vibram, my heels hurt...i gotta break the heel strike action" Vibrams allow a natural gait, but... With the sole, it shields you from sensing the ground and though minimal, it does provide a little cushioning (which, as any study on it has shown, increases impact, while not making you feel it), so it isn't so good at encouraging you to stop heel-striking. Go barefoot instead, and you'll find it easier to quite heel-striking.