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There is an increasing population of frog feet. One by one, athletes are beginning to train in rubber socks. At first the bizarre line of footwear seemed like a fad, but over the past couple of years the shoes have proven to stay popular.
Vibram Fivefinger’s come in a variety of colors and styles and at first glance they look like a sturdy pair of toe socks. The shoe is designed to fit like a glove. They are lightweight, comfortable, and strong enough to be used on any surface.
Leonardo Da Vinci said, “The human foot is a work of art and a masterpiece of engineering.” Supporters of the Vibram FiveFinger claim that the average running shoe damages the ingenuity of the foot.
In 2009 the book Born to Run brought a lot of attention to the footwear line. Christopher McDougall, the author, is a strong believer that many back and knee problems in runners, is a result of the average, cushioned running shoe.
“Blaming the running injury epidemic on big, bad Nike seems too easy, but that’s okay, because it’s largely their fault,” McDougall wrote.
The toe shoes are most popular among runners, but over time they have spread to everyday use. The shoe is not as bulky or confined as other running shoes. FiveFingers have a reputation for being healthy for your feet. The Vibram manufacturers claim five reasons that their shoe is the best; it strengthens muscles in the feet and lower legs, improves the range of motion in ankles, feet and toes, stimulates neural function that is important to balance and agility, eliminates heel lift to align the spine and improve posture, and allows the foot and body to move naturally.
Colorado Mesa University student Connor Boe wears his FiveFingers every day.
“Your foot is not designed to run in a shoe, toes should be allowed to spread,” Boe said. “It feels like you are running barefoot but you do not have to worry about rocks and stuff.”
When Boe hears comments about the shoes being goofy or weird looking, he brushes it off.
“They are like my assassin shoes, you can’t hate on that,” Boe said.
They may be a fad, or they may be revolutionizing the running shoe. Check out Vibram FiveFingers at www.vibramfivefingers.com.
cheykoop@mavs.coloradomesa.edu
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