My doctor tried to tell me to run barefoot

I was an orthopedics guy but still continued to have knee and lower back problems even after various adjustments.

I finally decided to buy a pair of vibrams and learned proper mid-foot striking. I continue to wear the typical trainer (Nike Peg) for everything except my recovery days. For my recovery days I wear the vibrams and it helps as a refresher for how I should be striding. No knee/back problems since.

I think it is just a matter of learning how to stride properly in your trainers.

barefoot running or minimalism is a good way to keep from getting injured. But, you must do what you can an not what others do. I run in all three types of shoes; trainers for long runs, minimalist shoes for faster runs, and barefoot/vibrams. If i run barefoot it will be after a hard workout on soft grass. Speedwork is done in racing flats specific to the race. Try it minimalism and see what really helps. But I believe more cushion is not the way.

Did she not manage to finish his sentence?

Still at least you are speaking to a female, you it as a starting point

Med School Runner wrote:

I went to the doctor today to get a referral for new orthotics, and she tried to tell me that I should be running barefoot as "many studies have shown that shoes don't help reduce injury rates."

I was under the impression that barefoot running was a fad and not based in science, and thus have been very opposed to it. Is barefoot running legit for serious runners?

I've run barefoot all my life. That's over 40 years for me. Everyone in my tribe ran barefoot. I still run half my 60 or so miles per week barefoot. My feet and legs are strong.

If you want you can youtube Newton Natural Running Panel. I think it's in 12 parts.

Zola Budd Pieterse answers a couple of queations on it. She wears shoes almost all the time because she needs a lift in one shoe to even up her leg length discrepancy, which in the past gave her serious injuries including a hamstring, pelvic fracture and such.

And I'm a fast runner or "serious" as you put it.

You're, its just a fad. Just goes to show, doctors don't know everything. My doctor told me I should give up running and race-walk! She couldn't understand why I was so upset at the suggestion!