Avoiding Summer Injuries, Like the Hazards of Barefoot Running Shoes

Hundreds of years ago, people were active year-round. We worked in the fields, chopped wood, and walked everywhere. Because of the constant physical labor, changing seasons and a shift into summer didn’t pose any particular risk to the body. Fast-forward to today, when, according to the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the average adult spends more than nine hours a day sedentary and jumping into warm weather exercise can result in a slew of foot and knee injuries for couch potatoes.

One of the biggest sources of sports medicine injury we’ve been seeing lately stem from the new sports fad – barefoot running shoes. From a sports medicine standpoint, our running injury experts claim that barefoot running isn’t necessarily dangerous, but overeager runners don’t break them in appropriately. Instead of easing into the barefoot shoes, people are strapping them on and clocking the same ten miles they would be getting in regular shoes.

The change in the stride, and the lack of the protective padding in regular shoes, creates additional stress on joints, which can result in multiple injuries like a stress fracture.

If you’re gearing up for an active summer after a winter hibernation, consider meeting with a sports performance specialist or personal trainer before jumping in with both feet. A training expert can help you develop a personalized fitness plan to get – and stay – active and injury free throughout the summer!