Risks and Benefits in Transitioning To Barefoot/Minimal Footwear Running

[Kyrrinstoch]

Interesting.

I find a few things of particular note:

1. The regular references to runners who "Survived" the transition phase: Makes it easier for the reader assume that there's an entire additional dataset from runners who tried bf/m running but did not transition over. Obviously, the post-transition information wouldn't exist for anyone who didn't "survive" the transition period.
2. The average age of Male responders being 40 and transition age was in their mid-late 30's: This in itself is significant, as incidents of any type of use/overuse injuries and longer recovery times increase with age.
3. The post-transition average # of injuries of 3.5 per 10,000km m/bf compared to 8 per 10,000km shod: This data seems to be regarded as completely insignificant.

My takeaway - based on the results of this study, a male in their mid-late 30's could potentially reduce the number and severity of running related injuries by over 55% by successfully transitioning to BF/M running. Which is the opposite conclusion the authors of the study came to. Apparently this significant rate of injury reduction is considered "..weak evidence of beneficial affect of barefoot running.."

Food for thought when reading one of these studies - how many other physically demanding sports/activities do people start being involved in or retrain themselves for in their late 30's? How many of those actually have "best practice" guides or trainers/coaches to help with that and what are the injury rates experienced during those learning/transitioning process?

 

[Barefoot TJ]

Interesting. I find a few things of particular note...

Good observations!

 

[Barefoot TJ]

Interesting.

I find a few things of particular note:

1. The regular references to runners who "Survived" the transition phase: Makes it easier for the reader assume that there's an entire additional dataset from runners who tried bf/m running but did not transition over. Obviously, the post-transition information wouldn't exist for anyone who didn't "survive" the transition period.
2. The average age of Male responders being 40 and transition age was in their mid-late 30's: This in itself is significant, as incidents of any type of use/overuse injuries and longer recovery times increase with age.
3. The post-transition average # of injuries of 3.5 per 10,000km m/bf compared to 8 per 10,000km shod: This data seems to be regarded as completely insignificant.

My takeaway - based on the results of this study, a male in their mid-late 30's could potentially reduce the number and severity of running related injuries by over 55% by successfully transitioning to BF/M running. Which is the opposite conclusion the authors of the study came to. Apparently this significant rate of injury reduction is considered "..weak evidence of beneficial affect of barefoot running.."

Food for thought when reading one of these studies - how many other physically demanding sports/activities do people start being involved in or retrain themselves for in their late 30's? How many of those actually have "best practice" guides or trainers/coaches to help with that and what are the injury rates experienced during those learning/transitioning process?

Kyr, I asked Dr. Daumer to respond to your post, and this is what he said:


Dear TJ,

Thank you very much for your message! I think that the paper and the corresponding information at PeerJ https://peerj.com/preprints/250/ contains the relevant information.

I'll keep an eye on the comments and will post something if needed.

Best,

Martin