Naked Feet - A Look At The Barefoot Running Movement (original article)

Update: After speaking with Dr. Lieberman of the study mentioned below, we've edited the first few paragraphs for accuracy and clarity. View the updated article here.

After hundreds of years of walking with shoes on, is it time we relearn? There’s a movement going on that challenges the very foundation of sneaker wearers (not to mention sneaker companies) everywhere called barefooting. At its core, this running movement is all about getting back to basics. It’s based on the notion that feet perform best when they’re free to flex as the human form intended, without man-made cushioning and without inhibition. Most recently, runner and Harvard researcher Daniel Lieberman released a study in the journal Nature (subscription required) that supported the notion of barefoot running as a benefit to feet.

The underlying mechanical theory is based on the fact that shoes can sometimes prevent the naked foot from rolling properly through each step, or the toes from powerfully propelling the body forward. Barefooters also contend that a naked foot will not land on the back of the heel as it will in a shoe, instead landing on the outside edges—causing less strain on knee joints, the spinal column and the overall human skeleton.

There are plenty of skeptics. The majority of runners still take issue with forgoing footwear at this point. On a practical level alone, it’s hard to fathom running through a dirty city, along the river in the cold, or even in a twig and stone-ridden forest without some sort of shoe for protection. And—think about it—during a race, it doesn’t seem like hitting the porto for a bio break would be the most sanitary of options.

So where does that leave us?

At New Balance, we’re committed to developing shoes with various levels of cushioning and support—from very little to plenty. And we’re continually exploring the human foot and the best way to accommodate it. We do this by working with renowned bio-mechanical engineers, podiatrists, and top-ranked ultra-marathoners—even barefoot ones. In this way, we’re able to offer footwear options for all kinds of needs—from the most minimal support on upwards. Unless of course you’re going barefoot. Then we’ll just cheer you on and offer another kind of support—the emotional kind.

For additional perspectives on barefoot running, here are some helpful sources:

• A lively debate at Runner’s World
• A Boston Globe article written by Carolyn Johnson discussing the Lieberman study, that quotes New Balance manager of advanced project engineering Sean Murphy
• A Christopher Joyce NPR report on the Lieberman research