What the study found
Minimal shoes reduced measured energy cost compared with standard shoes under the tested conditions. Forefoot and rearfoot striking did not significantly differ in economy.
Participants and protocol
Habitually minimally shod or barefoot runners tested shoe and foot-strike conditions on a treadmill, controlling shoe mass and stride frequency.
What this cannot establish
Participants were already accustomed to minimal footwear. An acute economy difference does not establish injury safety, a benefit from abruptly changing shoes, or superiority over modern racing shoes.
Publication details
- Record
- PubMed 22217565
- Publication types
- Comparative Study · Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Indexed subjects
- Exercise Test · Gait · Running · Physical Fitness · Shoes
- Source record checked
- 2026-10-18
Publication type and subject indexing describe the record; they are not a quality grade or proof of a benefit. An abstract does not replace a review of the full methods and results.
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