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Thinking of buying that pair of $150 running shoes you've had your eye on? You may want to think again.
I'm posting a link to a popular mechanics article that suggests modern running shoes are causing more harm than good. Personally, I've always bought cheap running shoes, as I felt that expensive ones are a waste of money. I mean, how can it be natual to run on top of a cushion of air, or an inch of rubber.
There have been other studies showing that gymnasts pick up fewer injuries when landing on a hard mat, as opposed to a sprung or cushioned one (I can't find it, so I'll leave that bit of searching up to you - please comment if you find it).
From what I remember, the reasoning was that the brain senses the first touch on the mat through the sensitive nerves on soles of the feet, and expects a hard surface. I suppose it's like when you think you're at the bottom step of a flight of stairs, but there's one more to go. That can be a painful experience. But, as we all know, the force exerted on your ankles during running can be more than 6 times your bodyweight. I think we can all see the potential for injury there.
Anyway, I was glad to see some scientific research related to this subject. Take a look at the article I linked to and let me know your thoughts in the comments.
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kr
website: FitnessForRealMen - proven muscle and strength training techniques; fitness and nutrition tips
