GOING barefoot reduces runners’ chances of injury, and may even allow them to
move more efficiently. Michael Warburton of Gateway Physiotherapy in Capalaba,
Queensland, noticed that many Australian cross-country runners race barefoot, so
he decided to investigate why.
After reviewing studies into the causes of running injuries, he concludes in
the online journal Sport Science (www.sportsci.org/jour/0103/mw.htm)
that shoes make runners less aware of where their feet are in relation to the
ground, so they are more likely to sprain their ankles. He also compared studies
that looked at runners’ efficiency and claims that running barefoot reduces
oxygen consumption by 4…
