Less isn’t always more. A look at “barely there” running shoes and their impact on bones in the foot.

In an article titled “Study: Vibram FiveFingers Lead to Greater Risk of Foot Bone Injury” published in Runner’s World in February 2013, researchers concluded that running in “barely there” shoes cause an increase in stress reactions and fractures in the foot.  The study, originally published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, was conducted over 10 weeks and included 36 runners. One group wore conventional running shoes and another group participated in a gradual transition to Vibram FiveFingers  with the goal of wearing these to replace conventional running shoes for at least one short run a week.   Of the 19 participants running part-time in the Vibram FiveFingers  shoes, 10 participants (or approximately 52%) of runners showed evidence of bone injury based on MRI’s taken after the study, compared to pre- study MRI’s.  The MRI’s did not show injury to muscles or tendons,  only bone injury. While “barely there” shoes may increase lower leg and foot muscle strength,  this study shows that they  can lead to bone injury which can be costly, painful and impede running.  Early evaluation of foot and leg pain is paramount to a rapid recovery.