I run in Vibram FiveFingers. It's not quite barefoot running but pretty darn close. They do wonders for my knees and ankles. Before I was cutting out because the pounding on my knees were killing me around 2 miles, but with my VFF I can run 5+ miles consistently. It's a whole different ballgame. Running w/ shoes, I struggle to walk the next day. Running with VFF, I feel even more energized the next day.
I know it doesn't work for everyone, but it's worked for me. That's what matters to me of course. Other people have different experiences. But at 6'5" 215lb, the less stress on my knees the better.
I'm pretty convinced VFF accelerated my arthritis. Just saying.
How so? I have bad arthritis in my knees and I feel like VFF helps take it down a few notches.
My arthritis is in my toes. Genetically predisposed to it thanks to malformed joints and I think I've had hallux rigidus for years in a mild form, although I didn't know what it was until a couple of years ago. But I think jogging in the VFF, which did feel better for my knees once my calves and soleus got used to it, wore down the cartilage and accelerated the growth of the bone spurs I have on top of both big-toe joints now.
Could keep going, but I'd have to take it to the emo thread. My point is that barefoot running can be great if you take your time adapting and if there's nothing contra-indicating it. But it's not the miraculous solution to all physical ailments - or return to our "paleo" roots - that it seems a lot of people make it out to be.
