Not exactly a shoe thread, more about the how people run

[Luke_Pitt]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8483401.stm
Fancy trainers are bad for you.

It's another example of humans relying on technology, and the body naturally adapting to the removal of a certain environmental stress by relaxing it's defences against it. Much like using drugs to fight disease makes your immune system weaker, or not ever runnig anywhere makes your body ill equipped to run effectivly.

[Rob-F]

I've ran on the balls of my feet since I was about 6, because I watched a program about cheetahs.

[Omer]

people try to go against nature too much now. it's the new thing to live forever without having to lift a finger and most people are either so afraid of disease or illness they will do anything in order to survive or there are other people who care so little about their body they don't care what they do anymore

[dakameo]

"The results could be of interest to sports shoe designers"

Love it, as if Nike don't know the statistics of injuries from heel running. They know the score, but people want to be sold feature rich trainers to boost their confidence about their own running ability. It's basically fear tactics and ignorance (and then apathy at the highest level) because people are scared to experiment in case they damage themselves, like Omer said.

On joining a running a club, generally all people are told is to start slow, get some good trainers and eat well. They wouldn't start in a gymnastics club in the same way; they would be coached in technique, especially when the movement involves forces of at least 3x their bodyweight travelling through single joints.

Anyway, its fun to see Nature bringing it to light and people having to answer difficult questions. I doubt a lesser journal would have had the same effect.

Next stop, orthotics....

[mcquade]

" They wouldn't start in a gymnastics club in the same way; they would be coached in technique, especially when the movement involves forces of at least 3x their bodyweight travelling through single joints.

Not true. Not at all

[dakameo]

Not true. Not at all

How do you mean? Even at Key Stage 1 and 2 where the emphasis can be more on exploration; technique demonstration and modelling are used constantly.

I was talking more about structured clubs rather than free sessions, where movements are taught precisely. Even most gyms I know of ensure that new members of open sessions are supervised and go through an initiation process so that they don't kill themselves straight away. Maybe people have other experiences?