Barefoot running – Benefits and Harms

Running with a minimal support or with the barefoot is termed as barefoot running. Barefoot running allows you to feel things. When you run barefoot you feel the things when your legs come in contact with the ground.

Typical barefoot runner

• A person who has been running barefoot for a long time and has faced all the injuries that are occured by barefoot running is called as a typical barefoot runner.
• Initial days of barefoot running might be strenuous. While running barefoot there are many chances for the injuries.
• As you get familiar with the barefoot running then the mistakes that you make while running barefoot will be corrected naturally and the risk of injuries will be reduced.

Benefits
There are some benefits along with a few of the harms of barefoot running.

• Your can develop strength in your muscles, ligaments and tendons of your foot.
• You can reduce the risk of injuries such as achillies tendinitis which are caused by the tight tissues.
• Whenever there is excess padding in the shoes then the runners run on their heel instead of forefoot. So when you run barefoot it helps you to run on the forefoot. Rather than placing the whole foot on the ground, you might learn running only on the forefoot.
• Smaller muscles present in your feet becomes active when you run on barefoot.
• Balance can be improved by running barefoot. As all the smaller muscles such as ankles and hips coordinate, you can improve your balance in a better manner.
• You stay connected to the environment when barefoot running is encouraged.

Harms of Barefoot Running
The following are a few harms of the barefoot running.

Lack of foot protection
• When you run barefoot then your foot might not have a protection. So, initially when you start your barefoot running you might face some problems till you become familiar.

High risk of injuries

• Barefoot running might lead you to face the risk of injuries.

Battling Blisters

• Initially, most of the people who start off their barefoot run might face battling blisters for about a few weeks.

Plantar pain

• Feet is the tender and the soft part of your leg. So, when you run barefoot then you might face plantar pain.