What Makes Minimalist Running Shoes Better?

Posted by Ler magazine on January 12th, 2021

What is a minimalist shoe?

Minimalist shoes, often called minimalist boots or minimalist shoe, are footwear designed to closely resemble natural walking or barefoot conditions when compared to conventional, traditionally styled shoes. 

The contemporary minimalist shoe is not meant to be a hindrance to achieving the goals of a particular activity or event, but to compliment it as part of the experience. 

This type of footwear does not need the support of a traditional shoe, as it is constructed with a soft insole and flexible rubber outer sole. This structure of the shoe is what allows it to adapt well to a variety of activities and conditions. Most of the time, minimalist shoes use a post and tie-in system that can expand and contract when they need to.

How helpful is wearing a Minimalist shoe for your injuries:

The minimalist shoe has been found to reduce the risk of sustaining injuries while running by more than forty percent, compared to the number of runners who experience injuries each year. 
 
Studies show that minimalist running shoes reduce stress on the muscles of the legs and lower body, reducing the risk of stress fractures, Achilles tendonitis, knee injuries, and shin splints among other types of injury. 

The reduction in shock absorption reduces the risk of stress injuries such as shock injuries, which are caused by sudden changes in gait, such as jumping, or sudden twists and turns. minimalist running shoes also have less impact on the lower back than conventional shoes, which may help to reduce lower back pain among runners and reduce the number of runs necessary for relief during rehabilitation.

Benefits of using Minimalist shoes:
 
The minimalist shoe provides a competitive edge that can only be had from the structure of the shoe and the lack of structure of traditional running shoes. Minimalist shoes do not sacrifice the ability of the feet to rotate, roll, or step. The lack of structure in traditional running shoes reduces pro-nation and allows for a smooth transition between heel strikes and arch strikes.

 By reducing pro-nation and better arch support, the minimalist footwear provides the runner with a balanced foot strike that overcomes the lack of shock absorption in traditional running shoes.

A more efficient gait is another advantage of minimalist footwear. The gait of the minimalist shoe allows runners to maintain the forward momentum throughout the run. The forward momentum that is maintained through the forefoot strike pattern allows runners to gain an advantage over faster runners when it comes to getting away from contact at the end of the run. A more efficient gait helps to minimize energy lost on the down-stroke and transfer that energy into the downswing and the hip burn of the downswing.

Flexibility is another important feature of minimalist shoes. Minimalists cushion the body and feet in a way that allows the bones to lengthen and form a longer, leaner structure than in traditional shoes.

 
Finally, minimalist shoes improve the function of the muscles used by the runners. Because the gait is smooth and the muscles are not contracting or extending, the runner can use their larger muscles as part of the stride motion. This improves the efficiency of the leg, hip, and trunk in movement. You can scroll through the internet to find more about minimalist shoes on sites such as lermagazine.com.