Here are some tips to help you decide which type of running shoe is right for you. Minimalist shoes and barefoot running shoes aren’t going to be suitable for everyone. A study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that barefoot runners report fewer knee injuries and heel pain, and another study published in the European Journal of Sports Science found that barefoot shoes increase ankle dorsiflexion, which can correct foot strike and help to reduce injury risk.īut the jury is out on the barefoot approach - not all runners or feet are built the same. Some argue that because minimalist shoes encourage midfoot or forefoot striking, they can help to prevent injury. These types of running shoes are typically better suited for runners who prefer more support, are overcoming injury or have foot conditions such as flat feet or overpronation. Traditional running shoes, on the other hand, provide more stability and arch support for your feet as you run.

In fact, one 2019 study found that wearing minimalist running shoes for six months increased foot strength by 60 percent. A forefoot strike may have several benefits, including helping to reduce ground reaction forces and ground contact time - in other words, better running efficiency.īecause minimalist running shoes have less cushioning to absorb impact, runners who wear them tend to rely more on their foot strength and muscle tissue to aid cushioning instead of on the components of the running shoe. One study published in 2016 in Sports Biomechanics found that runners were 9.2 times more likely to have a forefoot or midfoot strike in minimalist running shoes than in traditional running shoes.

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