Barefoot running: Minimal shoes for minimal injury?

Running features repetitive, impactful movements resulting in 79% of runners getting injured each year (Altman & Davis, 2012). Ground reaction forces while running can reach between 2.5-2.8 times a person’s body weight and must be dissipated properly to prevent injury (Cavanagh & LaFortune, 1980). Rearfoot strikers generate a higher impact peak in comparison to forefoot strikers (Daoud et al, 2012). Running with shorter stride lengths can also reduce the peak vertical ground reaction force (Heiderscheit, Chumanov, Michalski, Wille, & Ryan, 2011). It is hypothesized that runners who are barefoot will run with shorter strides and a mid or forefoot strike pattern thus reducing the ground reaction force that must be absorbed by the limbs of the runner (Liebermen et al, 2010).