Vibram FiveFingers

It was fortuitous timing for a study to be done on Vibram FiveFingers, minimalist, 5 oz shoes that claim to allow your foot to “move more naturally and freely,” because all the trainers I know are trying to convince me to get them, making me wonder what all the fuss is about. Some of them are elite athletes, even. There are plenty of reviews about them, but until now, I had not read a study.

Are they the latest fad (after “toning” shoes like Reebok’s Easytones, which they just had to pay a large settlement)? Are they advantageous, neutral, or even harmful?

Interestingly, while the shoes are especially popular for running, everyone I know who has them does everything but run in them. This study did assess the shoes for running.

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse followed 16 recreational female runners between the ages of 19 and 25 for 2 weeks, who were told to run in the vibrams three times a week for up to 20 minutes a day.  They then assessed the women’s’ “form, foot-strike patterns and the force at which they hit the ground” in running sneakers, barefoot, and in the Vibrams.

The main finding was the opposite of the self-proclaimed benefit of the Vibram FiveFingers, i.e., half of the women wearing them (also half who ran barefoot) did not adjust their form, increasing the wear and tear on their bodies and also had nearly two times greater impact forces.

The conclusion was to ease your way into running with minimalist shoes. Start slowly with walking and then only part of your run in the Vibrams, let your body adjust your running form and style, and pay extra attention to form.

They also say that for people who have been running for a while and have not dealt with injuries, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and stick with regular running shoes.

This study has clear limitations, the main ones being the small sample size and the limited time in the shoes.

Note: According to Vibram FiveFingers' website, there are five reasons to wear the shoes, for which they have versions for a variety of activities (including yoga) – 1. Strengthens muscles in the feet and lower legs; 2. Improves range of motion in ankles, feet and toes; 3. Stimulates neural function important to balance and agility; 4. Eliminate heel lift to align the spine and improve posture; 5. Allow the foot and body to move naturally.

randi morse, randi.morse@gmail.com, newton, ma