Minimalist shoes and adaptation

[fe.RMT]

Thought some might be interested in this article on minimalist shoes and adaptation. I also have two great flow charts put out by these guys that can be used to determine if / when a minimalist shoe is for you. Unfortunately it is in PDF and I don't think I can post it. If you want it let me know.

http://www.therunningclinic.ca/blog/201 ... equisites/

[MichaelMc]

Seems like they are convinced virtually everyone can and should switch. It amazes me how every movement goes completely overboard before swinging the other direction. Funny that Vibram are coming out with more and more padded "barefoot" shoes.

To the credit of the people involved in this one, they at least propose a slow adaptation process.

[rungeek]

Seems like they are convinced virtually everyone can and should switch. It amazes me how every movement goes completely overboard before swinging the other direction. Funny that Vibram are coming out with more and more padded "barefoot" shoes.

To the credit of the people involved in this one, they at least propose a slow adaptation process.

As a "study of one" even a slow slow slow adaption never really let me handle the change to minimalist. After years of running in Brooks Beast and Grid Stabils, two years ago I started the transition to minimalist (Ascis Hyper Speed 4) and after two years of trying to adapt I'm now creeping back up the scale towards Cushioned at least. The slippers that are the Hyper Speed 4's just didnt work for me no matter how little I ran. I hope to never run in a true motion control shoe again but think I need something in the middle.

(insert all the usual caveats here...YMMV, etc)

[fe.RMT]

Seems like they are convinced virtually everyone can and should switch. It amazes me how every movement goes completely overboard before swinging the other direction. Funny that Vibram are coming out with more and more padded "barefoot" shoes.

To the credit of the people involved in this one, they at least propose a slow adaptation process.

Based on the charts they have put out I would say that doesn't really reflect their opinion. I think they feel that most HEALTHY runners should be able to make the switch. But they seem to advocate a more "least shoe possible' route rather than a "minimalist shoe for all' route.

[HCcD]

Another reason to go NB Minimus ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GfuaMgMHdE

[LadyVo2]

I know Clinique du Coureur - my physiotherapist associated with the clinic
they are convinced indeed that anyone can benefit from running in minimalist shoes. - no matter your size, weight, age...
but they advocate an extremely slow transition.
I am in this process right now - it is pretty good, but I am approaching this very cautiously...
I am running in NewBalance minimus zero - a year ago, I was running in Asics GT-2170, with orthotics ...
Quite a change - in my case, I had nothing to lose since I was injured anyways (otherwise, I would have never bothered trying this change )

[ceileigh]

I went from stability shoes with orthotics to neutral shoes with orthotics to VFF's. Transition was very very slow, part of recovering from a non running related injury. For me the VFF helped me get into a mid foot land. Without it I kept going back to heel striking and heel striking was causing me problems. I am currently trying vivobarefoot which are 'unitoes' and so far am liking them.They really encourage the mid foot land and they ahve a good video with some preliminary exercises to prepare you to work on the mid foot land. I alternate between the evo II and the VFF Bikila. I've still had some injuries and issues but they have been clutz related and not shoe related. I will say though I spent about a full year really working on the switch from shoes before my feet / legs really made the change.