flat feet and barefoot running

[Virginia Plain]

I've had knee pain for year and recently started having back pain.  Saw a chiropractor and he did a scan of my feet showing that my arches have completely collapsed.  He suggested orthotics and a couple more adjustments and I should be right as rain.

I just spoke to a very good friend of mine who's a massage therapist and literally read medical journals for fun.  He also read Born to Run and was singing the praises of barefoot running.  So, HE told me to forget the orthotics and claims that I could repair my arches w/barefoot running. 

DH used to run in minimus but doesn't anymore and I was very anti barefoot running.  I'm pretty sure DH quit using them b/c he was having back pain. 

I'm curious.  Anyone have any input? 

[Magic Microbe]

Never in a million years would I run barefoot.

[Belgian Lace]

Never in a million years would I run barefoot.

...or listen to someone without medical training tell me I could repair my arches.

[siamesedream]

Never in a million years would I run barefoot.

1

[Fionn mac Cumhail]

I'm a maximalist when it comes to shoes...Hoka, baby...



IN BEFORE THE LOCK

[Virginia Plain]

I'm a maximalist when it comes to shoes...Hoka, baby...



IN BEFORE THE LOCK

Yeah, me too.  Not quite Hoka but total stability. 

[rocketgirl]

Never in a million years would I run barefoot.

111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111

I don't even walk barefoot outside the shower.

[Virginia Plain]

111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111

I don't even walk barefoot outside the shower.

I'm barefoot all the time outside of work and running.

[Clb]

McDougall's take on barefoot running was pretty in-depth into the science behind it, how running barefoot causes us to adjust our stride, placement, etc in response to the foot sensitivity. Basically, if it hurts don't  land like that. But he also ends up saying barefoot running isn't  practical for most of us, but maybe letting our current running shoes wear down more in between replacements is.
I can't  do his descriptions justice but you might really appreciate reading those chapters again, assumimg you've read the book before.
He also describes how his arches improved the more he ran as the foot muscles got stronger and recreated the arch shape. Again, his narrative is better than my summary.

[Run Amok]

I think the fad is going more towards maximalist these days. I am pretty sure vibram got sued over their claims re: barefoot running and I've heard pts and orthos say they saw a lot of stress fractures in the feet due to barefoot running. So, YMMV, but not a direction I'd personally go.

[Virginia Plain]

McDougall's take on barefoot running was pretty in-depth into the science behind it, how running barefoot causes us to adjust our stride, placement, etc in response to the foot sensitivity. Basically, if it hurts don't  land like that. But he also ends up saying barefoot running isn't  practical for most of us, but maybe letting our current running shoes wear down more in between replacements is.
I can't  do his descriptions justice but you might really appreciate reading those chapters again, assumimg you've read the book before.
He also describes how his arches improved the more he ran as the foot muscles got stronger and recreated the arch shape. Again, his narrative is better than my summary.

Yeah, that's pretty much the conversation I just had w/my massage pal.  I was just curious if anyone had any actual experince w/it. 

Either way, it motivated me to see an actual foot doctor before jumping into orthotics from the chiropractor.  So, I'm doing that on Tuesday.

[Virginia Plain]

I think the fad is going more towards maximalist these days. I am pretty sure vibram got sued over their claims re: barefoot running and I've heard pts and orthos say they saw a lot of stress fractures in the feet due to barefoot running. So, YMMV, but not a direction I'd personally go.

That's right, there was a class action against them

[The Turtle Whisperer]

Not relative to the OP, but I have very fond childhood memories of sneaking out on a private golf course at night and running barefoot... man, that lush grass... it felt great! 

Still in before the lock!!! 

[Trotter]

I like minimalist footwear. At least the no-stability stuff; cushioning is a different story (so I like Hoka too). The stability shoes I used to wear drive me nuts now.

But I don't have flat feet. If I did & were looking to run without overpronation-induced pain, I'd do the orthotics thing in a heartbeat. Particularly if I were already partial to stability shoes.

Fuck those arch-repairing dirty-footed hippies.

[siamesedream]

I've run barefoot on the beach, but I would never do it on any other surface.

[MoCo]

I'm partial to minimal-but-cushioned (I wear Altras).  I did run in FF for a while... but I'm not a teeny lady and it was not doing me long term good.  It did teach me how not to be a thuddy heel pounder and to be more aware of where I put my feet.

I'd say your best bet is to see a really good physical therapist for a movement screen and a second opinion.  Podiatrists make money on orthotics, and most of them only look at feet and ankles, but you need to consider the entire movement chain since a small change to the way your feet interface with the ground could wreak havoc all the way up your body.

[Run Amok]

That said, I'd also take what the chiro said with a grain of salt. A foot scan? A couple of adjustments? For fallen arches?  I'd probably go see a good ortho before investing much in the chiro thing.

[Virginia Plain]

I'm partial to minimal-but-cushioned (I wear Altras).  I did run in FF for a while... but I'm not a teeny lady and it was not doing me long term good.  It did teach me how not to be a thuddy heel pounder and to be more aware of where I put my feet.

I'd say your best bet is to see a really good physical therapist for a movement screen and a second opinion.  Podiatrists make money on orthotics, and most of them only look at feet and ankles, but you need to consider the entire movement chain since a small change to the way your feet interface with the ground could wreak havoc all the way up your body.

I've seen 2 physical therapist, one is the husband of Vicky Huber.  Neither of them picked up on my flat arches.

[HobbyJogger]

Assuming that barefoot running was a great strategy, couldn't you get the same or better results with targeted exercises to do the same thing? Specifically, strengthenand improve recruitment of some stabilizer muscles.

[Run Amok]

I've seen 2 physical therapist, one is the husband of Vicky Huber.  Neither of them picked up on my flat arches.

But, it's possible the flat arches aren't the issue the chiro is suggesting.

I've tried going the chiro + manual manipulation with my last two injuries. In both cases the (sports medicine focused) chiro had the wrong diagnosis or gave me bad advice. When I went to an actual dr with actual medical training they got me on the path to recovery.

I'm not sure I'd look to a PT for diagnostics. Though the one I'm working with currently definitely knew just how to fix me up!

Assuming that barefoot running was a great strategy, couldn't you get the same or better results with targeted exercises to do the same thing? Specifically, strengthenand improve recruitment of some stabilizer muscles.

This is exactly what my pt consisted of. Progressively challenging stabilizer muscles, fixing imbalances, and working on strengthening specific areas of weakness.