Barefoot running is an alternative to running with running shoes. We were created to run barefoot to survive, to hunt animals and move from camp to camp. However, since that time concrete has been invented and we needed to protect ourselves from that hard environment when we run on it. The consequences of these impacts on the body long term are not clear. The barefoot running community is growing, but so is the anti barefoot running commentary.
Those who run barefoot and promote it make a number of claims for the benefits of it. They claim that the barefoot running biomechanics is more efficient. They claim that there are less injuries in those that run barefoot. However, there is actually no scientific evidence to support that running barefoot is better or even an ideal way to run. Those who support barefoot running point to a lot of evidence, but when you look at what the barefoot runners are claiming, the research did not actually say what is being claimed. The barefoot running community is dominated by many who are very fanatical about it and often it is difficult to discuss the research evidence with them in a rationale way. It is almost like trying to have a religious argument with someone.
This does not mean that barefoot running does not have benefits; it is just the unsupported claims being made for the benefits that are at issue. It is probably possible that barefoot running should be used by all runners, in moderation and as part of a balanced running or training program.
