posted
Its good to know that Dr K thinks we are on the right track.
If I had a time machine, I would have started with this grounding from the beginning, because the effect can be deep, I believe.
I agree!!!
My feet are too sore to walk barefoot anymore so I am returning to my all leather shoes til my feet recover!
Nearly finished "Born to Run" very entertaining and theres a lot about how shoes are very bad for you!
Posts: 654 | Registered: Oct 2003
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Hello all, I am a newbie. Just convinced our PCP to humor me and consider that my husband has Lyme and he agreed to humor me and started him on doxy. He also asked me to start earthing my husband. There is a book by Stephen Sinatra, MD called Earthing from Basic Health Publications. Also an article in february 2010 issue of Heart, Health and Nutrition on the topic. Interesting!
Posts: 2 | From Lubbock, Texas | Registered: Dec 2010
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I received my Earthing bands yesterday from www.earthing.com Pain is better,more relaxed and sleeping 24/7. Posts: 905 | From Santa Cruz,Calif | Registered: Aug 2005
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Brussels
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13480
posted
Hey Wallace, in which country are you to walk barefoot? Isn't it all snowy in Europe now?
When I was kid, I used to walk basically barefoot, as I grew in a tropical country. My skin was sooo thick, that it started cracking. But then it grew back again.
I could step on any stone, no problem even on some broken glass sometimes. I used to play soccer barefoot on the street.
I can swear that we don't need shoes. Only sometimes the broken glass was too thin, and it did hurt then. When I moved to the city, I started using shoes more often, more because the city is dirty and no one walks barefoot. But when I was in the coutryside, walking barefoot never was problem (it was problem to wear shoes, in fact, specially in summer).
Now my skin is so thin too and it hurts even to walk slowly on pebbles. And winter is here. Now I only go out to touch the ground with my hands. I guess we need to build the earthed shoes as proposed on the video above!!!
Healing in Santa Cruz, long time no see! How are you doing?
Posts: 6200 | From Brussels | Registered: Oct 2007
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momlyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 27775
posted
Earthing pad is great... I use it every day and pass it around to family members. My son rolls his eyes every time I ask him to sit or lie with it...
I feel the difference when I sleep or lie with it.
Bought scalar pendants for christmas gifts for LLMD, home health nurse, family members...
Found this today on google when looking for info to print out to give with the pendants (so people understand what they are). Thought I'd share it here. Mentions Einstein, Tesla --
Toxic mold was suppressing our immune systems, causing extreme pain, brain fog and magnifying symptoms. Four days after moving out, the healing began. Posts: 2007 | From NY/VT Border | Registered: Aug 2010
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i hope to run barefoot; we are designed to run.
Posts: 654 | Registered: Oct 2003
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daystar1952
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3255
posted
Not sure if this link was already mentioned http://www.healthymedicine.org/html/radio.html It's an interview with 2 of the authors of the book Earthing. One of the authors is Dr. Stephen Sinatra. He lives in CT and treats or did treat alot of Lyme patients. He mentions Lyme briefly on this radio interview and how earthing can help the sludgey blood so common in Lyme
Just scroll down a little bit till you see the title of earthing
Posts: 1176 | Registered: Oct 2002
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Have been sleeping on my earthing mat now for a little over a week I believe. So far, I do not notice any affects, positive or negative. I don't fall asleep any faster, do not sleep any deeper, do not stay asleep longer and do not wake up any more restful. ?!?!? Was hoping for these result. Will continue to use it because I think it is beneficial even though I'm not physically feeling the affects yet.
Posts: 215 | From Phoenix, AZ | Registered: Jul 2008
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This reviews Born to Run book linking it to Norman Doiges book The Brain that changes itself that discusses stroke rehab.
Posts: 654 | Registered: Oct 2003
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Before we begin, Take OFF that FOOTWEAR! If you want to take baby steps in your transition to Running Barefoot, fine. But, no baby, I�ve ever seen, was born wearing protective footwear, so they could run further, before they learned HOW to run - before their bare feet were strong enough for running! If your bare feet aren�t currently tough enough to run a mile while barefoot, then DON�T run a mile barefoot, not yet! If you wear some kind of minimalist, or �transitional� footwear, before you have had the advantage of LEARNING how to run while actually barefoot, you�re just asking for problems � problems that occur when we try to do too much, too soon � when we protect our sensitive soles from telling us how to run more gently, or when it�s time to stop for the day - problems that occur when we�re still running with bad technique, but without the support provided by those big clunky shoes that allowed us to learn how to run badly. It�s a lot easier to LEARN to sing on-key, when we aren�t wearing earplugs, to block the pain of listening to ourselves singing off-key!
Will Running Barefoot Cure all my Troubles?
Many of you may be suffering from chronic running related injuries. I won�t tell you that Running Barefoot will cure everything wrong with you, or magically make you the fastest runner in the world, or that you will never cut your foot while Running Barefoot.
What I will say is that many of the chronic foot problems, common in our shoe-addicted society, are practically non-existent in societies that do not wear shoes!
And, much to my own surprise, when I first started sharing my Running Barefoot experiences on the internet, thousands of other people were not only running barefoot, but many were running barefoot because they couldn�t run in shoes without chronic and debilitating knee and back pain. The ??Benefit?? of Pain!
So, why are you wearing your shoes? You probably believe your shoes are protecting you from injury, or at least from pain. And if you have knee and back pains from running with shoes, you might imagine that the impact contributing to these problems must even be worse without shoes!
However, what we often forget about Running Barefoot, especially if it has been many years since we ran, or played, barefoot, if we ever did, is that it is only comfortable to land with impact, while wearing shoes.
One of the reasons we have so much fear of Running Barefoot, is pain. Yet, it is by learning how to avoid pain that teaches us to run smoothly, and gently, and efficiently like so many runners from places like Africa, India, South America, etc..
Footwear blocks pain, not impact!
Pain teaches us to run gently!
Footwear inhibits our natural ability to learn to run gently! Varied Terrain
But first a word from our sponsor, the Earth! Going barefoot, from the very beginning, should be on a variety of terrain. And you should definitely start short � just standing at first � and build distance and speed very gradually, NOT as you toughen up, but as you LEARN HOW to respond appropriately to the terrain. This concept should not be taken lightly!
You will NEVER toughen your soles enough, by running on grass, to run badly on rough, hard surfaces without pain and injury! Our soles were made with many nerve endings, so that, from the very start, as infants, we could learn how to stand, walk, and run gently, and gracefully, while barefoot. Since many of you never learned how to do these things as infants, you may need to think more like children, and take some additional time, to re-learn what the appropriate response to each type of terrain is. Now, back to our regularly scheduled program� Have we been Practicing How to Run Badly?
From the moment you start going barefoot, you will change the way you run. Unless of course, you already have learned to run barefoot as a child, like most Kenyans, and Ethiopians!
It�s always good to start at the beginning. And the first thing we should assume is that we don�t actually know HOW to run.
Yes, we may think we know how to run, and we may even think we are doing it correctly. We may even have been told by an �expert� that �the way you run, is something you cannot fix, unless you have the right shoes and orthotics�
But, if we couldn�t run barefoot, with the same technique we use while running in shoes, then we obviously are not running the way we are designed to run. I will be the first to admit, that I have known people who were born without feet. But, I don�t know of anybody who was born with shoes!
If we learned to run with shoes, without the benefit of our feet being allowed to feel the ground as we learned to run, it�s likely we could learn to run better, more gracefully, more efficiently, perhaps even faster and longer.
Think of it like this, if we wanted to learn arithmetic, it would not make sense practicing multiplication, again and again, so that we had it perfectly memorized that 2 X 2 = 5? Sure we have learned something, but if we try applying what we learn, we�re going have some problems!
No! First you must learn the correct formulas, before it makes any sense to spend hours and hours practicing.
The same is true of running � before we go out and try to run for miles and miles, it makes sense to learn how to run correctly, otherwise, not only are we teaching our body running technique that is inefficient, but might also be dangerous!
SO STOP PRACTICING running BADLY � especially if it hurts! Our Two Personal Coaches
The really neat thing about Running Barefoot, is that we have a personal coach at the end of each leg. The soles of our feet have more nerve endings than any other area of the body (of the same size� unless you are really well endowed elsewhere!). Those nerve endings, like all of our nerve endings, are not there to torture us � they are there to teach us how to avoid danger. In the case of the soles, they want to teach us to walk and run gently, smoothly, and efficiently, by telling us to avoid techniques which cause pain.
Tension is the source of most pain.
�Wait a minute,� you might ask, �didn�t you just say that bad running technique causes pain?�
Yes, but it is tension that often leads us to stiff, rigid, mechanically unresponsive, and dangerously incorrect running technique. Training Schedule
LISTEN to your body and soles. They will tell you how much, when, and HOW to run better, more gently, efficiently, gracefully, naturally. The key is to learn to pay attention. Follow this advice, and you will build a solid foundation of knowledge, technique, and skill, on which to build. It may seem like the foundation takes a long time to build, but watch a building go up, and you will see that after a long time preparing the foundation, the building actually goes up very quickly (and hopefully doesn�t fall down anytime soon). Relax, Relax, Relax!
It is VERY important to Relax! Relax! Relax!
I do understand that while we are learning something new, it is very difficult to relax. Just remember these wise words;
�Your tread must be light and sure, as though your path were upon rice paper. It is said, a Shaolin priest can walk through walls. Looked for�he can not be seen. Listened for � he can not be heard. Touched � can not be felt. This rice paper is the test. Fragile as the wings of the dragon fly, clinging as the cocoon of the silk worm. When you can walk its length and leave no trace. You will have learned. -Master Kan�
While I can give you a few clues as to How to run, it is the sensitive soles of your feet that, like the delicate rice paper, will fine tune your wisdom and skill of running smoothly, gently, and efficiently. Start Where you are Today
Rather than trying to emulate the training schedule of top Olympic marathon athletes, we should probably begin where we are today, as an individual.
The question you have to ask yourself, and seek the answer for yourself, is �Where are you today?� Have you always worn shoes, all day long, for as long as you can remember? Or do you kick off your shoes as soon as you finish work or school, and frolic barefoot in the grass, dirt, or even on hard asphalt and concrete surfaces?
In case you aren�t used to being barefoot, the first few days might best be spent, just getting used to not wearing shoes, and watching where you step, and other such things. Read through the articles in this Beginning section
Then before you go out and start counting your mileage or measuring your speed, focus on learning good running technique. How
Or, if you aren�t interested in running, focus on walking technique.
Chi-Walking
Remember, it may have taken several years to get used to wearing shoes. Even though going barefoot is very natural, it may take a significant amount of time to get your body reacquainted with your long imprisoned friends at the bottom ends of your ankles. So go easy, let your feet gradually get used to the light of day, and the feel of the ground, and the new stresses that will be put on your feet. You are not Alone!
Consider signing up on our discussion group, if you would, to share with a wealth of people with various experience standing, walking, and Running Barefoot � there are a lot of other people, who had similar, if not worse problems, than yourself, and many are now running marathons (26.2 miles) barefoot!
To find other barefoot runners in your area, to share ideas or just to go for a run with, look for a chapter of t the Barefoot Runners Society in your area
So take off your shoes, and find out if your feet really are more useful than you may have been led to believe.
But, most importantly�
Have fun Now, It it time to Begin, at the Beginning
Starting slow (which may mean walking, or standing barefoot for some of you tenderfoots), and easy, and focusing on learning to run safely, and efficiently, as described in this section, also gives your feet time to become conditioned. It is, as has been said by so many others, absolutely silly to run long distances until after our running technique has been sorted out. After all, you wouldn�t want to race your car, if the mechanic had not finished aligning your tires! Why would you do worse to your own body?
If one considers for a moment, that we really, not a single person in the entire world, are designed to run with shoes blocking the sensation of our feet touching the ground while we run, then we might begin to realize, that if the way we are running is uncomfortable while barefoot, that it is not because we are barefoot, but, because we are not running the way we are designed to run.
The main reason we �need� shoes for running, in fact, is not because of modern surfaces, which are not as hard as many natural solid granite trails, which I have run comfortably on barefoot, running up and down mountains.
But we really only need shoes like any drug addict �needs� his/her fix, we have LEARNED to �need� shoes. Our feet have become weak and lazy, due to constant support and �protection�.
So you can expect a period of extreme difficulty and discomfort when kicking the shoe habit. Your feet will be growing stronger, from the exercise they have been deprived of for all those years or decades in foot coffins. And, your soles have probably become ultra-sensitive in a desperate attempt to feel the sensation of touching the ground through the thick soles of your shoes, whose main or �sole� purpose was to prevent your soles from feeling the ground! Should I expect Some Pain?
So, expect some pain, some intense stimulation, and a great deal of adjustment. But, don�t fear, for most of the fears are way over-exaggerated. Yes, you will step on things. Yes there will be some occasional cuts, bruises, etc.. In most cases, however, these injuries are not the end of the world. In fact, in most cases, these injuries, rare, minor, and fast-healing, are much preferred to the chronic injuries many of you suffer, or will suffer if you continue depending on shoes to protect you from bad running technique. So just watch where you step, start short, slow, build gradually (as an infant would), and let your feet grow strong and healthy and free! Should I try to Toughen my Soles?
It is important to realize that conditioning of the feet is not simply a matter of toughening the soles to withstand the abrasive surfaces we will be running on. Over the years, your feet have been protected from exercise by wearing shoes. Obviously, our soles will be over-sensitive at first. But, perhaps less obviously, and more importantly, our entire foot structure has been weakened, even deformed, by the constant wearing of shoes.
Therefore, it is very important to take plenty of time to strengthen, not just our soles, but also the entire foot structure. Focusing on learning HOW to run, instead of trying to build distance, at the beginning also gives our feet time to adjust, to strengthen, to regain a more natural level of sensitivity.
More importantly, our feet will toughen, as we use them, as we build up gradually, to walking and running longer and faster, whether we focus on improving our running technique or not. However, if we focus on improving our Running Technique, not only will we be running more efficiently, gracefully, and naturally, but also, our feet, won�t need to be as tough, as you might first believe � because we are no longer running as dangerously as we did in shoes.
So, physical strength, toughness, and conditioning, are way less important than retraining our mind. And focusing on strengthening, or toughening, to withstand abuse does little to teach us not to abuse our feet. We will never improve our running technique, unless our mind is relaxed and open to listening to our newly bared soles. Stand, Walk, and Run (barefoot) on Varied Terrain
Another important consideration is what types of surfaces we will be running on.
Each surface has different benefits. Soft, smooth, uncluttered lawns, for example, are simply more comfortable to run on barefoot. However, soft, smooth, unlittered lawns, or rubber tracks, do little to condition the soles of our feet. But, they will help, to some extent, to strengthen the structure of our foot. That is the muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, etc�
Hard and rough surfaces, while not all that comfortable to run on barefoot, are quite tolerable IF we use good running technique, and keep our joints fluid, not tense. RELAX! RELAX! RELAX! These surfaces are great for developing and helping to maintain a wonderfully fluid, and relaxed running technique, which will help us on every other surface we run on. So, while it isn�t necessary to run exclusively on hard, rough surfaces, it isn�t productive to avoid these surfaces.
In the real world, you are going to run (hopefully barefoot) on all sorts of surfaces, dirt, grass, asphalt, concrete, granite mountain stream beds, hard packed clay, mud, rocks. While not all will be the most enjoyable, sometimes it�s the variety that we can take pleasure in. Each type of surface, helps us with different facets of our running, technique, strengthening the muscles, toughening the soles, or just learning to relax while running. Each surface provides a different type of massage for our feet. And therefore, I suggest not being afraid to seek out and run or walk barefoot on each of the different grades of surfaces. Final Reminders for Beginners
Always keep in mind where you are beginning. Don�t overdo. Start short, slow, and build gradually, on each new type of surface or terrain. And relax, relax, relax. Don�t turn the Running Barefoot adventure into a chore.
I�ve always done a significant percentage of my Running Barefoot, so I may not be the best person to ask what kind of schedule a newby barefooter should start with. In general, what I have seen as others begin to run barefoot;
* One schedule does not fit all, * as your body adjusts (or not), the schedule should probably fall by the wayside anyway * Start SHORT * Start SLOW * build GRADUALLY. * LISTEN to what your feet and body tell you. * ADJUST how long, how far, how fast, how often you run/walk/stand/wiggle your bare feet according to what your feet and body tell you. * Success is the journey, not the end. * The more you hurry to succeed, the longer it will take to succeed.
Where to Begin
My recommendation is to start, simply by standing on a rough surface, or sharp gravel. Play, experiment with how to spread your weight over many points, rather than tensing up and trying keep most of your foot off the ground, we want to use all of our sole to support our weight. Thus distributing our weight over many points, rather than pushing with all of our weight, onto just a few sharp points.
When you can relax (bend your knees, relax your calves, lower your shoulders), and stand comfortably on some of the roughest gravel, then you are ready to start lifting your foot, and setting them, carefully. Again, play, experiment, discover, and learn. That�s what Running Barefoot (or walking barefoot) is really about.
�more posts about Beginning to Run Barefoot
Posts: 654 | Registered: Oct 2003
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rachellemarie-- have you checked to make sure your grounding device is actually grounded?
here is my report so far-- *I wake feeling less groggy/confused *I seem to have more dreams that I remember *my hubby's foot neuropathy flairs with sugar exposure. He had to eat something quick due to hypoglycemia (took too much insulin). It had sugar in it and his neuropathy got worse. It seems that the neuropathy is going away more quickly now that he is using the pad. He has used for about one week now.
Posts: 236 | From Illinois | Registered: Feb 2009
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linky123
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19974
posted
I ordered the pad and used it at the computer without any noticeable results. I'm very sensitive to EMFs.
Slept with it under my lower legs last night. Woke up feeling like I'd been hit by a truck. Also have a really nasty headache.
Anyone else experience anything like this?
-------------------- 'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.' Matthew 11:28 Posts: 2607 | From Hooterville | Registered: Apr 2009
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Just like any other treatment, I think all people will respond in a different manner. For the super sensitive, it would probably be good to go slowly. Maybe, in your case, use when you know you are exposed to EMFs or for only an hour a day instead of sleeping on it all night. Gradually work up to sleeping all night. This may take you months...
Studies show that it is causing changes in the blood, hormones, and EEGs, etc. so I'm sure it is causing *something* to happen for you. Your body might need more time to adjust to the changes.
HTH Posts: 236 | From Illinois | Registered: Feb 2009
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Hubby commented about the pad... "I think it is doing something. My feet feel pretty good." (he is suffering from neuropathy due to diabetes that was just diagnosed this summer)
He started sleeping gounded on December 15th. Posts: 236 | From Illinois | Registered: Feb 2009
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Daystar on another thread you mention ordering the mat because the wrist band is awkward. I was thinking of buying the wrist band. Any thoughts?
Posts: 654 | Registered: Oct 2003
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I agree with this advice on livingbarefoot. info Great site with radio interviews etc
The Dangers of Barefooting How to start off on the right foot: By Al Gauthier
Have I got your attention with my suggestive title? Is barefooting really dangerous? The short answer is that it can be! Just about any activity can be dangerous if done the wrong way
I would like to propose that as of the moment you read this article you let yourself think critically about your feet and your body rather than assuming that everything you�ve been told is correct. Some of it undoubtedly is true and some of it is not. Much of it will depend on what is true for you.
Let me also suggest that listening to your body, rather than taking anyone�s advice, is the most important key to any part of your health. Advice is only great when it happens to match your needs perfectly, and no one is inside your body but you.
Having now put you into an active role in your new barefooting experience, let�s discuss the various dangers of barefooting.
The Biggest Danger
The biggest danger is your own excitement and enthusiasm. Having been introduced to the idea that spending time barefoot can be beneficial to your health, you can�t wait to run outside and give it a try. Perhaps you have a new pair of fancy minimalist shoes and you want to go for your first jog in them. No problem, you think, I�ve been running for years! Wrong!
We get a huge number of emails from excited newbies who can�t wait to try out their newly rediscovered feet only to end up in pain.
Let�s step back and think about the history of your feet. The average person has grown up living in shoes. Some have even worn shoes inside the house. Your feet have grown, quite literally, to be adapted, as best they can, to shoes. Toes have grown pointing inward to conform to the shape of a shoe and your arch has had years of plush comfort riding on the support given by your ever more �advanced� footwear. The muscles, tendons, and joints of your feet, legs, and body have all grown accustomed to these conditions.
I�m not suggesting for a moment that many, if not almost all, will find barefooting to be a wonderful experience. I am, however, suggesting that one should not jump foot-long from one extreme to the next. You wouldn�t start your training for a marathon by running for four hours when you haven�t run for 10 years, so don�t start going on long barefoot walks when you haven�t had the time to adjust. The body is an amazing adaptable machine, but it does take time.
For most, walking barefoot is a comfortable and happy way of being. Most don�t do any barefooting outside their home, barring perhaps a wash of the car a few times a year or a quick walk out to the mailbox. It would be natural to assume that spending even more time barefoot is no different, but the truth is that it can be very different for the body.
Walking at a faster pace and for a longer period of time puts different stresses on your feet, legs, and body. The key to avoiding injury is very simple: start very gradually. Here is where listening to your body is key. Everyone will have a different pace, but I can almost guarantee you that you will let yourself beleve that you are capable of more than you really are. As you start gradually, your feet will build strength and your feet will start to adapt. Feet are very complex. Don�t underestimate how very different barefoot walking is compared to shoes. The skin on the soles of your feet will also need time to adapt. Some adapt more quickly than others, but the protective layer that will build eventually will take time.
When you are ready to start barefooting, here are my suggestions:
1) Don�t run! For runners who want to try running barefoot this is going to be nearly impossible. It is important however. Don�t do it. Not yet!
2) Take your regular shoes with you. You�ll want them if you find yourself getting sore.
3) While walking barefoot, stop immediately if you have pain or anything beyond slight discomfort. Walking on what will feel like rough surfaces will feel a little uncomfortable, but if you find it painful, stop.
4) Start very slowly. Go for a barefoot walk around the block for the first day. Stop.
5) Increase your barefoot time very slowly over a period of weeks.
6) Even if you find it comfortable, be careful not to go on long walks. You may find your feet sore for days or weeks afterwards, undoing all your effort. Don�t push yourself too quickly.
7) If you are new to being barefoot completely, be very careful as you start out as the skin on the soles of your feet may be very easily cut.
8) Practice walking in a new way�let your midfoot touch the ground first, not your heel. Walking in this way decreases the impact of walking and is a much more pleasant way to walk barefoot. It takes time and conscious effort to change, however, and this is the perfect time to let your body memorize a new way of walking.
As you go out on these important first walks, you will start to build strength in different muscle groups in your feet and legs. Your feet will become accustomed to the rougher surfaces of the ground and will slowly start to build more protection. The change will be almost imperceptible, but over time you�ll notice that you can walk on areas in comfort that used to be too intense.
When you can routinely go for walks of up to 45 minutes barefoot without pain or discomfort, you are probably ready to start running. The same suggestions apply for barefoot running. Start slowly, very slowly! Running barefoot is a wonderfully freeing sensation that is shockingly different from running with shoes. This is due to a very different running stride that naturally evolves from barefoot running. It is less impactful for your body and many report it is much easier and more efficient. I certainly find it a vastly more enjoyable way to run.
Because it is so different, however, it is also important to start with only a few minutes of running. Remember the history of your feet. Your feet have probably never been used this way before and need to build strength. You have laid the foundation with walking and now you can start to build on that foundation, but it must be done gradually.
1) Run for only 5 minutes the first time.
2) Stop if you have any pain.
3) Increase your barefoot running time very gradually, working it into your regular shod running schedule until you can run the entire distance barefoot.
4) Don�t let yourself go too long! You�ll regret it. Do it gradually.
5) Focus on your running technique. Don�t hit the ground with your heel first�ever!
What about walking and running in Vibram FiveFingers, Vivo Barefoot Shoes, Feelmax Shoes, or other minimalist shoes on the market?
Virtually all the same principles apply. So long as your footwear is truly minimalist, most of the same new muscles will be used when walking and running barefoot for the first time. You should follow all the same advice for using these shoes. If your intention is to spend some of your time barefoot as well, you may want to do this during your first barefoot adventures. While the shoes do allow the feet to move in a much more natural way compared to traditional shoes, they still provide protection and cushioning that will make it easier to maintain old habits of heel striking. You will also not get the benefit of strengthening the soles of your feet, which will require a whole new set of training steps if you should decide to toss your shoes and let your feet free at a later stage. Only you will know what your path might be. Taking time to think about it before you start could be beneficial.
The Other Dangers of Barefooting
It would not be accurate to say that barefooting has no risk. There are pieces of glass that if hit the wrong way could cut your feet. There are other sharp objects on the ground, and yes, the ground is a dirty place.
The largest threat to getting injured is your own lack of attention. Walking or running barefoot does require constant attention. Scanning the ground of obstacles is a required part of barefooting and becomes second nature over time.
Despite popular belief that the ground is a minefield of danger, almost all barefooters report that they have very rarely hurt themselves. In fact, I would argue that the lack of attention paid to being barefoot in your home is far more dangerous than when outdoors and at attention. I myself have never been hurt beyond tiny cuts from glass a couple times per year. Those don�t even require attention beyond cleaning.
While the ground contains bacteria and other nasty things, almost none of this enters through your feet. Diseases that we find in our modern parts of the world almost universally enter through the mouth and nose. So long as you keep your feet away from your mouth, clean them when you get home to avoid getting them on things you would touch and then put in your mouth, you should be safe.
There are, of course, no guarantees. You will find the sentiment is, however, widespread that barefooters in general suffer very few injuries or illness caused by being barefoot. One might even argue that those who wear shoes are far more likely to find injury through sprained ankles and other shoe-related problems.
Finally, there is one more danger to letting your feet discover the world without shoes
You may fall so completely in love with the practice that you will find shoes intolerable. All joking aside, most of us that spend time barefoot do find traditional shoes far more of a problem than we did before being barefoot.
Your feet will likely grow slightly, although there is debate about whether feet actually grow or whether the owners simply become intolerant of tight-fitting shoes and thus require larger sizes.
So now that you know about the dangers of being barefoot, you can avoid them easily. Let your feet be free. Make sure you tell us about your adventures. Contact us through the website, post your stories in our forums, or call our feedback line. We want to hear all the stories: good and bad, short and long. Enjoy More Living Barefoot Articles and Reviews
* An Interview with Corrado Giambalvo: Living Barefoot Show 26 * Barefoot Australians; How far back does that go? * The Living Barefoot Show Episode 25 � We Interview Barefoot Michael * The Living Barefoot Interviews: Barefoot Angie Bee * The Living Barefoot Show: Episode 23: We Interview Rachelle Kurimoto * Foot Changes after Two Years Living the Barefoot Alternative * Charlie Weingroff Barefoot Interview * We Interview Daniel Howell, Author of The Barefoot Book on The Living Barefoot Show * Video: The Barefoot Professor * How Barefoot Running Helps Common Running Injuries * Living Barefoot Show � We Interview Dr. Michael Nirenberg * Review: The Barefoot Running Book by Jason Robillard * Better off Barefoot? What do Podiatrists have to say? * Living Barefoot Announces: The Worlds First Barefoot Search Engine * Harvard professor Daniel Lieberman on Barefoot Running (Video)
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Bookmark and Share Link to this post! Print This Post Discussion 36 comments for �The Dangers of Barefooting � How to start off on the right foot�
Facebook comments:
1.
I like how there is an advertisement for shoes with springs in the heels on this website.
Posted by KevinT | March 18, 2010, 11:57 2.
I am kind of new to the barefooting/minimalist shoe community. I�ve started by walking my dog around my neighborhood in my VFF KSO Treks & have certainly found that after a couple nights in a row of 30-45 minute walks my calves & arches ache slightly from the neglected muscles getting their first real workout in many many years. I hope to build up to some trail hiking/running & I�m currently out of shape enough to have no choice but to take it easy. I am anxiously awaiting the warmer weather to get my feet, and the rest of me, in better shape. This was a very well written article. I enjoyed reading it quite a bit. Thanks!
Posted by Guy | March 18, 2010, 12:27 3.
Only the FiveFinger Moc review link worked.
Posted by Seth | March 18, 2010, 14:05 4.
We find that amusing as well!
Posted by Al Gauthier | March 18, 2010, 14:16 5.
I first tried barefooting it back in fall of 2008 and managed to push myself way too hard way too fast. I went for an 8 hour hike over really hot packed trail and lots of gravel. I had blisters all over my feet and couldn�t go barefoot for a month.
Just a few weeks ago, I got up the courage to go again. And although I�m going barefoot 24-7 for the most part, I�m not doing any long walks or hikes barefoot yet. I�m letting my feet slowly acclimate to being barefoot all the time by not wearing shoes when doing basic chores and going to/from work. For anything else, right now, I wear shoes.
Posted by Joyce | March 18, 2010, 14:25 6.
Thank you � The footers are being updated and all links will work shortly!
Posted by Al Gauthier | March 18, 2010, 14:29 7.
Hi Joyce! Thanks for your comments. Your experience will help others be more careful. Glad you are back to enjoying barefoot again.
Posted by Al Gauthier | March 18, 2010, 14:31 8.
I started barefooting cold turkey, and got blisters as I sped up (the first week was agonizing and I did little walking, then I sped up and got blisters, for the next month). But I didn�t care. No matter how bad the blisters were, having had to wear shoes all those years was far far worse. But I expect I�m an extreme case. Plus I�m not a runner. Yet.
Posted by Anemone | March 18, 2010, 18:13 9.
Would you say you got blisters from pushing yourself faster than you should have? Was it avoidable for you?
Posted by Al Gauthier | March 18, 2010, 18:23 10.
I totally agree with all of this. I got some VFFs six weeks ago and started running about 20 miles a week in them. Yesterday the pain just got too much and I�ve been unable to put any weight on my left foot since. X rays today showed that no bones were fractured, but I�m going to have to get some crutches to get to work. I wish I�d been more patient!
Posted by Paul | March 19, 2010, 06:23 11.
I got blisters because I walked differently on my feet � the tender areas that had been immobilized by my shoes took a beating once they got into gear. The ball of my foot under my big toe did not blister at all, only the previously unused areas below my other toes, and the outsides of my heels.
I have no idea if going slower would have made any difference or not, but since I had no intentions of going any slower I don�t really care.
Posted by Anemone | March 19, 2010, 08:21 12.
Hello there,
Arround 2 months ago, I bought my first pair of Terra plana lesotho to go to work. The change was so amazing that I did not put my feet in a traditional shoes from that time, adding 2 other pairs for work and leisure. I don�t know if it is only an idea, but I feel my feet are much more bigger than before.
As an Ultrarunner, I try to do the same for my running shoes, but as you said the progress need to be very slow. I moved from high heeled shoes to nike free first arround 10 months ago, then moved to lasportiva crosslite where I am now performing most of my training and races. In the same time I run more and more with Inov8 F230, and add a 20-30 mn barefoot training on tread miles every 2-3 weeks, at low speed .
So far so good, my body accepted the transition with some complain some times (on achil mainly) but nothing serious or leting me stop running.
The road is long before I can finish UTMB barefoot (or at least with VFF) but I can say it is for sure a realistic goal.
Bip�dy
Posted by Bipedy | March 19, 2010, 20:52 13.
isn�t this common sense?
Posted by sirloin furr | March 21, 2010, 07:22 14.
I think that most people understand there is a mild chance of injurey but don�t realize how significant the difference between walking and running in shoes and walking and running barefoot really is. It�s common sense only when you have all the information.
Posted by Al Gauthier | March 21, 2010, 14:31 15.
I was so excited to get my first pair of Vibram shoes that I WAY over did it! I suffered. He�s right: take it slow. I�m baby-stepping, and won�t give up. Great article!
Posted by Pamela Boudreau | March 28, 2010, 12:15 16.
Especially for runners it is very difficult to dial the mileage and pace down to a safe place to start barefoot/minimal training. From looking at a lot of boards I can see that most of us (myself included) tend to get really excited when we first lose all the padding and can really feel the world below us. I ran 30 miles in my VFF KSOs over the first week that I had them and my left foot got pretty tender: hobbling around and holding tightly onto the banister going down stars. But if you are serious about doing it make sure to do it right. Bite back against that urge to lose the shoes and keep up your shod routine so you can slowly log more and more minimalist/barefoot time. It is worth it. Getting hurt stinks!
Posted by Jesse Lindsey | March 31, 2010, 13:51 17.
I originally went to barefoot shoes in the hope they will help build some strength in the arches of my flat feet, and also help ease pressure on my knees.
Being a person who has not ran anywhere in the past 12 years who has just signed up for a 3 mile fun run, I am taking it very carefully with my barefooting, because I am not fit enough and get out of breath after 100-200 yards anyway! So I thought I may as well start from scratch with my running and my fitness and build them both up at once.
I bought a pair of Vivo Barefoot Lucys in black leather last year, so I could wear them all day, every day while around the office with trousers/shirt and the usual smart clothes and it not be noticeable.
The first week I wore the shoes my foot muscles and bones literally felt like they were cracking and breaking out of ice � and they ached so much!! My calf muscles and achilles tendon also felt like they were constantly stretching. I was still stumping my heel down, which I soon learned not to do as it was uncomfortable. I now take shorter strides when walking. The shoes are really comfy to me now, and by contrast my trainers feel like they are crushing my toes.
I am going to do the whole run in my Barefoot shoes. I�m not going to run crazy fast, if I get out of breath I will walk for a time, or if my legs hurt I will walk for a time. Rest assured I am going to pace myself.
Posted by Kris | April 1, 2010, 04:07 18.
I have endured nagging plantar faciitis for almost 2 years now. It has never reached the point of sharp or unbearable pain as I have heard others go through. It has been more of the nagging, dull burn and ache. I have been going to PT for a while and think I am coming through it finally and may be ready to run again. I�m a lifelong runner and former marathoner. Little by little, I have been convinced that barefoot running is the way I want to resume my running. Chris McDougall�s book and lots of reading and research have convinced me that it is the most sensible and intelligent way to run. I�d like your opinion on this: do you think that walking and running barefoot will slowly strengthen the whole foot and thereby alleviate the plantar faciitis? I have a pair of VFF KSO�s and I am planning most certainly to heed all the wise advice to go slow. I do plan to start out totally barefoot on grass and work up to the VFF�s once my feet are accustomed to walking and slow jogging barefoot. But mostly my biggest apprehension is exacerbating the p.f. condition. Any insights would be appreciated.
Posted by John | April 1, 2010, 15:53 19.
Hi John,
Going slow would never be more important than for a situation like yours. If things hurt, stop.
It is of course impossible to say what would happen for you as there isn�t any solid data on things like this, however, I have spoken to and read about at least 50 cases where people had problems with PF and they were completely resolved with a more barefoot lifestyle.
Please let is know how you progress.
Who has had personal exerience with this?
Posts: 654 | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
Hoot - Yes, the mat came with a ground tester for outlets, and the outlet I'm using says it's properly grounded. I also purchased a volt meter, but realized I do not know how to use it and can't find anyone who know how! I wanted to test my body voltage without and with the mat to make sure the mat is working. Anyone know how to use a volt meter to test body voltage? I have a black and red lead and don't know which goes where!!! Posts: 215 | From Phoenix, AZ | Registered: Jul 2008
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Gives a slightely different view of transitioning to barefoot
Posts: 654 | Registered: Oct 2003
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Brussels
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13480
posted
Rachel, see the videos I posted, Max is holding a voltmeter. Just hold one electrode with one hand and another with the other and see what is the measure.
Wallace, interesting info, thanks. Amazing the guy running barefoot on snow. No way I can do that as I have a bad circulation problem, real bad. I'm trying to heal that with acupuncture and eating RAW grains (MANY grains like barley, millet, buckwheat, some African grains etc).
Kind of funny way to do it, but I think I'm getting results. I get awful pain in cold, and my toes change color to dark purple even with winter shoes.
who knows one day I will be able to run on snow?
When I was kid, I hated shoes and my skin got used to walking barefoot, run barefoot, play soccer or any other street game barefoot. I only wore shoes to go to school, and that was just the morning!
The only problem I had were with broken glass when they were very sharp. I still have dreams about broken glass, can you imagine? These were my only obstacles to movement then and in my dreams I get trapped with broken glass all around me and I can't get out because I'm barefoot!
Somehow city life (big metropolitan areas, I mean) and barefoot don't match together (too much dirt and broken glass) but contryside and beach areas are wonderful places for being barefoot!
Do you know that in Switzerland many people go shopping barefoot? Yes, mostly kids, but I saw a couple of adults too.
It is very popular to be barefoot where I lived and the parking lot or the supermarkets are so clean, you really only need shoes to drive (because of legislation). But kids don't drive, so many come barefoot.
Not in winter though...
Well, I moved to the ground floor, but my flat is not grounded! So I still have to use the copper wire to sleep. And guess, here is SO dry that I can't just stick my copper wire outside in the earth! There's not a good connection. So I decided to ground me again on the water pipes. This works if there's metal.
I didn't sleep grounded for about 3 days and boy, I do feel the difference. I feel more relaxed, the pull feeling is always good.
But I suspect that if people have EMFs around, it won't be a great change for them. You GOT to block bad EMFs, you got to be sure your bed has no bad field from under the earth so that grounding feels good. This is my opinion.
The grouding doesn't protect you against EMRs!
The most noticeable change in sleeping patterns for me happened when I cut the EMRs. Dr. K. says it takes about 2 weeks to sleep well again once you cut EMRs at the bed area but in my case, it was very fast.
Grounding while one is surrounded by EMRs could help, I suppose, but it won't be enough, in my feeling.
Just one last thing: I play a bit of guitar and when I don't, it takes about 1 month to lose all the skin that is built on the tip of the fingers. REally, it is very fast. If I practice it every day, only a bit, the skin will be kept and the more I practice, the thicker it gets. It is very visible.
I suppose it must be similar to the soles. We need constancy, not exageration! If I play too much guitar while my skin is not built, I will have pain and will stop playing!
Anyway, great to read about other people's experiences!
Posts: 6200 | From Brussels | Registered: Oct 2007
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GiGi
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posted
That was michael sandler in the video and he was told he could never run again after his near death accident. He also used earthing products. I have decided to order his book on running barefoot. We need someone to inspire us all!! .
Daystar can you mangage now to walk barefoot for long?
Posts: 654 | Registered: Oct 2003
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daystar1952
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
Wallace....I am still waiting for the pad to come. The wrist band seems to work fine...its just that I am up and down so often that I forget to always put it bak on. I figure that the pad will always be there under the keyboard for my wrists to lean on?
I was just thinking....let's say that I want to go outside in the snow and ground with all my clothes and rubber boots on. Would all I have to do to ground be to bring a rod with me that's hooked to a wrist band and then stick it in the ground outside where I'm sitting? This way you get more negative ions and sunshine?
I must confess Wallace...I have not been walking barefoot outside in the snow or on frosty ground. I just wear my soft stars when its dry and cold. I have kind of given up on total outside grounding until spring. I can't wait because I do remember how good it felt.
I would walk a mile(wearing a pedometer) around our yard on the uneven grass and then I would sit and read for an hour or so with bare feet on the ground. This year I am going to try and garden a bit more barefoot. So...my feet have not toughened up during the winter. I will have to start all over again in the spring.
Yesterday I went clothes shopping and tried on turtle neck shirts...on and off...on and off over the head. Wow did that create static electricity! I had a headache immediately after that.
I'm thinking it was the static buildup? Any thoughts?My husband said I should take my shoes off outside the store and stand on the grass but I didn't :-)
Posts: 1176 | Registered: Oct 2002
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posted
I am *experimenting* with my earthing pad...and here is what I am finding...
My son that is 11 has autism. He is very sensitive to things (food, emfs, chemicals, etc). I just recently noticed that his ears get red and he gets irritable when he uses his laptop computer (Dell). On his own he has figured out that he must feel better when he uses his brother's laptop (HP) so he keeps trying to take his brother's computer. My son is not conversational and can not tell me how he feels but I can go by signs (red ears vs. no red ears, behaviors, etc).
Today, he started using his Dell computer and within 10 minutes he was getting irritable and his ears became red. I brought down the earthing pad and had him sit on it while using his computer. The redness in his ears has gone away and I have not heard a peep out of him since (when he gets irritable he screams, yells, hits and/or bangs his head).
Pretty interesting, I think.
Another interesting thing...I took my grounding tester to make sure his pad was grounded (after checking to make sure the outlet was properly grounded). I stood on the basement floor (concrete covered with natural stone tiles) and tested to see if I was grounded. When I stood on the tiles in my cotton socks and placed the tester on my hand, the green light came on indicating that I was grounded. When I stepped on the thick wool rug, the light would go off indicating that I was no longer grounded.
Fun stuff! Posts: 236 | From Illinois | Registered: Feb 2009
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momlyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
quote:Originally posted by hoot: I am *experimenting* with my earthing pad... I stood on the basement floor (concrete covered with natural stone tiles) and tested to see if I was grounded. When I stood on the tiles in my cotton socks and placed the tester on my hand, the green light came on indicating that I was grounded. When I stepped on the thick wool rug, the light would go off indicating that I was no longer grounded.
Fun stuff!
That's awesome about your son, the grounding and how much more calm it is making him.
Do you have a link to that tester?
I have the one that tests the outlet... but I don't think you are talking about the same thing.
-------------------- May health be with you!
Toxic mold was suppressing our immune systems, causing extreme pain, brain fog and magnifying symptoms. Four days after moving out, the healing began. Posts: 2007 | From NY/VT Border | Registered: Aug 2010
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posted
The outlet tester and grounding tester came with the grounding sheet and pad that I bought at http://earthing.com . You can also buy the grounding tester alone at the same site. Just snoop around. If you can not find it, let me know and I will tell you where it is at.
Posts: 236 | From Illinois | Registered: Feb 2009
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Toxic mold was suppressing our immune systems, causing extreme pain, brain fog and magnifying symptoms. Four days after moving out, the healing began. Posts: 2007 | From NY/VT Border | Registered: Aug 2010
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posted
Thanks for posting that Lou. I am also concerned about pesticides,dog,cat,bird poop etc. Some kind of shoes for me. Poor Mother Earth isn't as clean as it was years ago. Posts: 905 | From Santa Cruz,Calif | Registered: Aug 2005
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linky123
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
Still feel like I got kicked by a mule. I only use the pad for short periods of time while at the computer.
I am so disappointed. No progress noticed at all. But will keep trying a little at a time.
I was gonna try this with my kids. My son in particular doesn't sleep that well, but am now leery of it.
Am happy for those of you who are getting results.
-------------------- 'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.' Matthew 11:28 Posts: 2607 | From Hooterville | Registered: Apr 2009
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'Kete-tracker
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I "grounded" the tin roof of the rough wooden cabin I lived in... a few years prior to the Lyme. In fact, I did most of my recovery while still living in that place.
Can't say it helped with EMF issues as I lived "off-grid" and the inverter downstairs was alive & "buzzing" only when my small refrigerator called for it. Otherwise, it was a pretty quiet EMF environment.
I did notice that the static buzz in the TV picture on the lower channels (2 & 4) was less afterward "earthing" the roof [Remember analog TV?], but my recovery stagnated in mid-Spring of '06. I was on 400mg/day doxy & with no further improvement after month #2... no matter What I tried; Herbs, exercise (when I could), massage or diet.
The hi-level amoxy protocol I was put on in April helped me the most to really get energy levels back to normal. I suppose I protected myself from radio/micro-waves coming in from space, though, with the grounded, solid-metal roof!
Personally, I think that if you have any metal of any length in you (i.e: bone braces) it might be god to keep EMF levels down. But if you're "metal-free", I'm not convinced recovering from Lyme would be any faster by using those pads & such.
It's a personal call though. Not like you're wasting a ton of $$, like 'some' docs make ya do.
Posts: 1233 | From Dover, NH | Registered: Sep 2008
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posted
For those of you with the grounding mat: Are you noticing a difference when you use the slip it comes with as opposed to using it without the slip? I read somewhere that it's more effective WITHOUT the slip, where your bare skins comes in direct contact with the rubber. Can those with the grounding detector test this? See if you're still properly grounded when your skin touches the slip with rubber mat inside instead of the rubber mat alone?
Posts: 215 | From Phoenix, AZ | Registered: Jul 2008
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linky123
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19974
posted
Rachellemarie,
As I posted above, I have had some ill effects since using the pad. I called the company and the lady told me to use the pad without the cover. So I am assuming it works better that way. I did not test it.
Just a footnote, I felt really rotten after using the pad; so I felt like I had stirred up some toxins. I took some cholestyramine I had on hand and it helped.
-------------------- 'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.' Matthew 11:28 Posts: 2607 | From Hooterville | Registered: Apr 2009
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RunBare Staying Warm: When the going gets cold, LESS is MORE; in supportive shoes, the feet don�t have to work & the body shunts blood AWAY from them. Yet in minimalist shoes or toasty-warm mocs there�s no support & the feet have to work, so the body pumps MORE bloodflow to them. In winter, look for flexible, unrestrictive, un...supportive, full-coverage footwear with protection b/n you & a rubber sole (rubber transmits cold).
Posts: 654 | Registered: Oct 2003
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quote:Originally posted by daystar1952: Wallace....I am still waiting for the pad to come. The wrist band seems to work fine...its just that I am up and down so often that I forget to always put it bak on. I figure that the pad will always be there under the keyboard for my wrists to lean on?
I was just thinking....let's say that I want to go outside in the snow and ground with all my clothes and rubber boots on. Would all I have to do to ground be to bring a rod with me that's hooked to a wrist band and then stick it in the ground outside where I'm sitting? This way you get more negative ions and sunshine?
Great idea!!
I must confess Wallace...I have not been walking barefoot outside in the snow or on frosty ground. I just wear my soft stars when its dry and cold. I have kind of given up on total outside grounding until spring. I can't wait because I do remember how good it felt.
I would walk a mile(wearing a pedometer) around our yard on the uneven grass and then I would sit and read for an hour or so with bare feet on the ground. This year I am going to try and garden a bit more barefoot. So...my feet have not toughened up during the winter. I will have to start all over again in the spring.
Thats the problem we need to go barefoot to really toughen our feet. My feet are very sensitive so its not an easy process!! Not yet received my soft star shoes.
Yesterday I went clothes shopping and tried on turtle neck shirts...on and off...on and off over the head. Wow did that create static electricity! I had a headache immediately after that.
I'm thinking it was the static buildup? Any thoughts?My husband said I should take my shoes off outside the store and stand on the grass but I didn't :-)
yep get grounded!
Posts: 654 | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
just finished this book by Roy wallack. Very interesting. He has a book on barefoot running out this spring.
Editorial Reviews Review Lots of inspiration here. Run for Life is filled with advice that should interest athletes of any age who are trying to stay in the game as long as possible. What attracted me to the book is that the author is not only a credentialed athlete, but that he did lots of homework. The medical/technical information is cutting edge. Research shows that we can generate the stuff of youth (growth hormone) with specific kinds of training. The author has surveyed the field to see what has and is working for athletes who defy the aging curve, and is not shy about exploding myths and confronting the fact that the endorphin high that addicts so many to long workouts and high carb diets has a steep downside. Without the muscle mass preservation of resistance training, the postural, range of motion, and meditative benefits of yoga, and the hormonal drive enhancement of interval training, the very long slow stuff will grind one down. Get this book to find out how to remain fit in a balanced, tech-savvy way. Roy has done a ton of reading and research for you. --rickstrongcafe.blogspot.com
Run for Life is a 'must-read' for any runners who want to run the rest of their lives. It's chock full of legitimate and innovative methods aimed at offsetting common running injuries like pool running, barefoot running, and midfoot/forefoot techniques, as well as a few radical concepts like high-intensity all-out, 30-second "Ultra-intervals" that purportedly build speed on limited training time. The book is replete with expert testimony and examples, and has a rich collection of interviews with the likes of Frank Shorter, Bill Rodgers, Helen Klein Rod Dixon, and Dr. Kenneth Cooper, among others. --Running Times magazine June 2009
This entertaining blizzard of information, with how-to training guidelines and photo sequences of effective exercises, includes a wide range of advanced training strategies for long-term running health. But what makes it ultimately worthwhile, and not just a fascinating opinionated blog, is that Wallack submits these cutting-edge ideas to rigorous proof and expert testimony, in each case provides examples of big-time people who have succeeded with them. --Slowtwitch.com
This is an awesome book that I actually read in one sitting! In a witty and conversational voice, Roy Wallack has crafted a very informative book in Run for Life, which details a life plan for running. A great read, it's full of oral histories of stars and everyday runners, and packed with practical how-to information --ncrunnerdude.blogspot.com Product Description Over 35 and want to win your age group and run injury-free for the next 50 years? Run for Life lays out a plan for remarkably fit athletic aging that can increase strength and speed on less workout time and leave you in a position to, as author Roy M. Wallack says, "Run to 100. Not just live to 100 and shuffle along when you get there, but do what few, if any, have ever done: Actually run a 5k, 10k, or even a marathon on your 100th birthday." Traveling the running world from Kenya to Tahiti and Boston to Badwater in search of the keys to super-fit running longevity, Wallack talks to the world's top coaches, athletes, and researchers and synthesizes new running methods, products, and fitness regimens into a life plan for runners that he summarized as: * Run Soft * Run Less * Run Stronger * Run Flexible * Run Straighter * Run Faster. At the core of the science-backed Run for Life plan is a one-two punch that addresses the two oft-ignored factors that cripple all runners: the natural muscle and VO2 Max deterioration that starts at age 35, and the joint deterioration caused by running itself. Featuring 10 extensive oral-history interviews and advice from all-time greats such as Frank Shorter, Bill Rodgers, Rod Dixon, Helen Klein, Laszlo Tabori, Bobbi Gibb, and Dr. Kenneth Cooper, Run for Life brims with innovations: �Soft Running form: The proven way to cut knee-shock -- and injuries --by 50%; �Barefoot Running: Why it strengthens feet and lessens impact. �Vertical Arm Swing: Why replacing cross-chest swings with a perfect pendulum adds instant speed, cuts injuries; �HGH Strength Training: High-intensity exercises that fight aging and injury by raising growth hormone release; �Ultra Intervals: Short, hard sprint workouts that cue rapid speed gains; �High-tech Water Running: New joint-safe pool tools used to set the half-marathon world record; �Runner-specific Yoga: Exclusive from famed multisport yogi Steve Ilg; �Bionic Hips and Knees: New operations restoring broken-down Baby Boomer marathoners to their 30-year-old selves; �Perfect running posture: a renowned postural therapist straightens you out for speed and safety; �Runaway Weight Loss: How slight changes in diet timing can cut fat and race times. See all Editorial Reviews Product Details
* Paperback: 320 pages * Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing; 1 edition (February 24, 2009) * Language: English * ISBN-10: 1602393443 * ISBN-13: 978-1602393448 * Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches * Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) * Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars
Posts: 654 | Registered: Oct 2003
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oughening Feet From Running tips for everyone from beginners to racing marathons and ultramarathons Jump to: navigation, search
It is beneficial to have tough skin on your feet for both ultrarunning and barefoot/minimalist running. I have tried a number of techniques for toughening the skin over the years. What is written in this entry is purely my personal experience, rather than specific recommendations. Contents [hide]
* 1 Pressure * 2 Bathing in salt water * 3 Bathing in strong black tea * 4 Rubbing Alcohol * 5 Rubbing Alcohol, Witch Hazel and Olive Oil * 6 Side note - calluses * 7 See Also
Pressure
The skin on your feet grows thicker primarily in response to pressure and friction. Walking or running barefoot on rough surfaces can produce rapid adaptation. I have found that even short barefoot walks have thickened the skin on my feet. Bathing in salt water
Salt water will dry out the skin, causing it to thicken slightly. I have found that this technique works, but the effect is very slow. Bathing the feet in warm salt solution can also be very soothing, a benefit beyond any toughening. I found using Epson salts rather than table salt is no more effective, but it does boost your magnesium intake. Bathing in strong black tea
The tannin in the tea is supposed to bind with the protein in the skin and make it tougher. I tried it a few times, but found no real change. Rubbing Alcohol
Like salt water, rubbing alcohol will dry out the skin. However, the effect is much more dramatic, producing results quite quickly. This drying effect will thicken the skin, but the drying can also make the skin crack.
Note: Rubbing Alcohol (AKA surgical spirit) is either Ethyl Alcohol or Isopropyl Alcohol, with additives to make it undrinkable. Ethyl Alcohol is the alcohol you find in beer, wine, etc. Isopropyl Alcohol is different and has a higher toxicity. Both are absorbed via the skin, so I chose to use Ethyl Alcohol. Rubbing Alcohol, Witch Hazel and Olive Oil
I mixed Rubbing Alcohol, Witch Hazel and Olive Oil in equal parts and applied it to my feet over night. I put it on my feet generously and then covered in thin socks. I found that this not only seemed to help the skin thicken, but it also make the skin very flexible and 'leather like', without the cracking that comes with just rubbing alcohol. Update: I have found that using alcohol hand sanitizer gel produces a mixture that applies much easier. The thick consistency allows a thicker layer, plus the mixture does not seperate. Side note - calluses
A callus is a localized thickening of the skin. A callus is a bad sign, as it indicates localized pressure or rubbing, which means your shoes are probably not fitting well. The best thing to do for calluses is to remove the root cause. I keep any calluses filed down and moisturized. I have found that moving to primal running has removed the root cause of my calluses, and they are disappearing now.
Posts: 654 | Registered: Oct 2003
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Daystar have you ever tried running in your soft star shoes?
Posts: 654 | Registered: Oct 2003
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linky123
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19974
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Is there some other company that sells this stuff besides Barefoot Sales Corp? I am having problems with them and would like to do business with someone else.
-------------------- 'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.' Matthew 11:28 Posts: 2607 | From Hooterville | Registered: Apr 2009
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Linky, if you look on YouTube, there are videos on how to make your own grounded shoes out of shoes you already have. It's very simple, you just need to mave copper or silver come in contact with your bare feet and also comes in contact with the ground. Just go to YouTube and do a search for making your own grounded shoes.
Posts: 215 | From Phoenix, AZ | Registered: Jul 2008
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daystar1952
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3255
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Wallace
I mostly walk.....all the time...whether I walk in my Soft Star shoes or in any shoes.I used to run around when I was pretty young but constitutionally I never felt comfortable running. It always felt kind of awkward. Wlking feels better to me. When its dry out I walk a couple miles a day in the Soft Stars
I can't remember if I heard about the following book here or not but I just finished The Ion Effect....an older out of print book and I found it fascinating. I always knew I felt better and liked the feel of natural materials better than synthetic but I never knew why until now!
Alot of it has to do with synthetics creating a positive ion environment. I'm changing all of my blankets and many of my clothes...in the future...to natural materials
Posts: 1176 | Registered: Oct 2002
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
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Although I have not read the book, I've been following this with interest. Discharging positive ions by grounding is a good idea, from what I can see.
One person said that she grounded herself to the water pipes. Isn't there a danger of getting electrocuted if the house is hit by lightning?
Carol
Posts: 6956 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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jackie51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14233
posted
Water pipes are typically grounded. There should be a water company sticker on the electrical panel. You can't get an electrical final without it (at least where I live).
Posts: 1374 | From Crazy Town | Registered: Dec 2007
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