AF&A Blog

There is so much media attention paid to the ‘barefoot running trend’ that it seems necessary we visit this topic once more as the summer comes to an end. Lack of footwear obviously opens your foot up to injury from random objects. The development of shoes like the Nike Free and Vibram Five Fingers may help to keep you out of Dr. Thomajan’s office for removal of glass shards or other objects stuck in your foot. These new types of footwear offer some protection but still lack the support of ‘traditional’ footwear. If you haven’t taken the time to slowly allow your body to adapt to this footwear or have not been devoted to the proper training regime, you may need to schedule an appointment for a completely different reason.

While you may be able to avoid getting objects stuck in your feet, the position of your foot may prove to be more problematic. Each one of us has a different variation in foot structure. Some feet will function fine without the support of footwear. Unfortunately, it is much more likely that your foot structure requires some type of support from shoes. The body will attempt to compensate for any lack of support but often the results can be painful or with changes in the way you walk or run. A visit with Dr. Thomajan can help you decide if barefoot running is for you. Part a visit to AFAS may include GAITSCAN computerized assessment in addition to physical examination of your feet.

Our goal here at Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists is to educate you about keeping your feet healthy. There are two books that Dr. Thomajan has written to help do that. Both deal with special issues concerning foot health. ‘Keep Running!’ is most relevant to our discussion of barefoot running. Request your free copy today and learn the best things you can do to avoid injury while running. Until next time, keep those feet happy and healthy Austin!

In a previous blog, we first addressed barefoot running and a few issues to be aware of with the expansion of this ‘new’ idea. The protection and padding of your feet were two issues we discussed in one of last month’s blogs. True barefoot running should be approached with extreme caution as these two factors can limit or stop your training all together. These obvious problems are eliminated by the use of foot wear such as the Nike Free® and the Vibram Five Fingers®. Both shoe types attempt to blend the support & protection of traditional foot wear with the flexibility & proprioception (feeling/sensing) of barefoot running. By offering protection and minimal support, the idea is that your foot will function more naturally and strengthen themselves in all the right places. The use of this type of footwear has big advantages over no foot wear at all.

There are many people who have found barefoot running or use of the Free® or Five Fingers® to be quite beneficial to their running regime. One should use extreme caution if you are thinking of throwing out your running shoes for a pair of these barefoot styles. As with most changes to your footwear, such as the addition of inserts or orthotics, you should begin to use them slowing. Begin by using them for a short portion of your entire run running (for instance, in the last half mile or so) and if you find this is comfortable slowly increase the distance or amount of time that you wear them. This allows your body time to adapt and help to eliminate any problems that would occur with a quick transition. Before we go, it is important to remember your foot type. Not all shoes work for all people. A visit with Dr. Thomajan at Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists will help you identify your foot type. This will give you a ‘map’ of the type of foot wear best suited to your foot, for what activities , and when or how often to use them. Until next time keep your feet happy and health Austin!

No, no, we are not talking about some crazy college ritual, but rather the bare foot running movement that seems to be popping up in the media now a days. Obviously, man walked around barefoot long before shoes were even an idea and this ‘theory’ of running without shoes is not a new one. The theory behind this movement, in short, is that shoes weaken the muscles that support your foot and ankle allowing runners to increase their performance by running without shoes. Scientific studies to support these claims are quite limited and often originate in other countries. Because of these short falls, yet the continued interest, we at Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists want to point out a few things that you should be conscious of if this is something you are considering.

The protection value of foot ware should be the first thing to think of. While you may think the area or machine that you are running on is free of foreign objects that could damage your feet, how many have us a swept up all of a broken glass only to find a small shard weeks later? Secondly, many factors, such as hydration, can affect the amount of padding on the bottom of your feet and in high impact activities, like running, it may prove to be inadequate. A good pair of running shoes provides proper protection and padding to allow for safe running. Good shoes are designed to complement your foot and ankle while you are running. As was mentioned in previous blogs, the ankle is an area of great force benefiting from proper support.

While you always hear that you should ‘consult your doctor before beginning or changing any exercise program’, embarking on this type of running program should definitely involve a consultation with your podiatrist. Until next time stay healthy Austin!