What Are the Dangers of Running Shoes?
Every year, at least 25 percent of runners must stop or modify their running program due to an injury. Michael Warburton states in the 2001 issue of "SportsScience" that injury rates are higher in runners who wear shoes versus those who run barefoot. Further, there are fewer running-related injuries in countries where most runners run barefoot. Researchers are exploring the hypothesis that wearing running shoes increases the risk of injuries.
Common Injuries
In an online survey published by the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, in 1,200 runners, nearly two-thirds reported they had experienced injuries related to their shoes. Injuries included blisters, tendonitis, arch pain, stress fractures, foot pain and toenail injuries. Ankle sprains are frequently reported among runners, and wearing running shoes may increase the risk of ankle sprains due to a decrease in the body's awareness of foot position and proprioceptive and tactile sensitivity of the feet. Planter fasciitis, shin splints and ilio-tibial band syndrome are other common injuries in runners that could be caused by running shoes.
Heel Striking
Daniel E. Lieberman, et al., of Harvard University suggest that many running injuries are caused by heel striking. Approximately 75 percent of runners heel strike when wearing running shoes, but when the same runners run barefoot, they strike midfoot or forefoot. The extra cushioning in running shoes causes the body to redistribute forces and causes the runner to land on the heel, which can contribute to repetitive stress injuries and unnatural gait patterns.
Improper Shoe Fitting
Although running shoes are designed to help protect the foot, selecting the wrong pair can increase risk of injury and pain. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society reports that people are willing to pay extra money for their running shoes, but when the number of injuries reported and the cost of the shoe were examined, there was no significant difference between those who paid $20 and those who paid over $100. This supports the idea that proper shoe fit is critical to decrease the risk of injuries related to running shoes.
Running Shoe Characteristics
The average running shoe weighs between 9 and 16 oz. The excessive bulk, padding and weight can contribute to pain, injuries and fatigue. Extra cushioning in running shoes can reduce the strength and feeling in the foot. Running shoe age can increase risk of injuries, but this depends on the individual runner; runners should take into account weekly mileage and terrain when deciding to change shoes. Shoes less than six months old have been associated with acting as protective devices but have also been implicated in injuries, and further research is needed to determine the effect of running shoe age on injuries.
Considerations
Running shoes can play an important role in keeping runners healthy, but runners must consider their foot structure, running patterns and body type when wearing a specific shoe. Adjusting to a new running shoe takes time, and runners should start slowly when making adjustments. Running form and techniques vary from runner to runner, and running shoes should not be used to achieve a specific running form or technique.
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