Are Minimal Shoes effective?
Is it worth wearing minimal support shoes?
First, a definition.
If a shoe is very light in weight, highly flexible and constructed in a way to permit good grip with comfort from design and not thick padding, it could be classed as minimal footwear.
Further, minimal type footwear is often constructed so well they are capable of a good life-span when used for long walks, jogging and trail running as well as for everyday wear.
Shoes – Good To Know terms
– Drop-refers to the height of the heel compared to the height of the toe above the ground
– Zero drop-means the back of the shoe is the same height as the front. No wedge.
– Stack height- refers to the sole thickness and amount of sole cushioning.
– Transition-means moving from a very supportive shoe to a less supportive shoe over time within your tolerance.
– Arch support-refers to an in-shoe molded soft, medium or rigid support for the bottom of the foot. Minimal shoes have zero or very minimal arch support by definition
– Support shoe-means the opposite of a minimal shoe. Support shoes have high levels of rigidity, stiff arch supports, maximum shock absorption and cushioning and built-in devices claimed to stop certain foot and ankle motions
– Barefoot-means no shoes at all or a very minimal design of very low or zero-drop and very little if any cushioning along with maximum shoe flexibility.
Barefoot can be a confusing term as this may be used interchangeably with minimal or minimus.
The market currently supports a wide variation of footwear designed for outdoor activity. The majority of these shoes are in the high to moderate control shoe design category.
It is true there has been bad publicity about these types of shoes in the past and they also may be hard to find in stores.
Summary
GeriTrak believes it is worth looking for this type of shoe. We especially understand that there is a great deal of misinformation in the marketplace about transitioning and minimal footwear. It is hoped that our articles will provide an informational balance.
Watch out for future GeriTraK articles on minimal shoes.
Oh, just to clarify, the above pic is supplied as a humorous example of minimalist innovation and does not represent the type of shoe the authors wear or recommend!
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GeriTraK. Good To Know