Can wearing minimalist shoes help eliminate PF?
Can wearing minimalist shoes help eliminate PF?
Yes
It did for me. I've been wearing lighter shoes now for two years. Maybe it doesn't work for everyone but it did for me. I wear Nike Free +2 and Puma Faas for my all runs/races.
I would say a qualified yes. I had PF for over a year and was wearing an 8 ounce "racer" which was only slightly less clunky than the bigger trainers. I gradually worked my way down to a minimalist category through carefully easing into minimalist shoes, the Mizuno Universe Wave 3 or the Nike XC, for example. I came down with an ankle problem recently and went back up to the Nike Lunaracer which is a step away from minimalism. The ankle felt better immediately. I'll stick with the Nike Lunaracer for now in training and race in the Mizuno and hope for the best. I just hate to wear a shoe that seems to fight the feet and which doesnt fully allow the feet to flex naturally.
Mr. Obvious wrote:
Yes
Or cause it.
Both answers are correct and the one that applies depends on the individual.
I think it's more of getting the natural running form for you right. It took me almost a year to find my natural running form. I found it by running barefoot. I was initially running as a forefoot striker, but that was not natural for me as I was applying too much pressure to balls of my feet and was always in pain. I found out for me that I can run for hours with midfoot strike. Now, I just wear Asics Pirahna's for all of my runs and it feels great with no pain.