Foot Health Research & Resources

Listed below are numerous journal articles, magazine and blog articles, and books that support a barefoot or minimalist shoe model for injury-free walking or running. These studies and books discuss the merits of barefoot living and the injuries commonly associated with the use of conventional footwear. Some of the articles discuss specific conditions, such as bunions, plantar fasciosis, and knee osteoarthritis. This body of work, in combination with the empirical evidence gained from clinical and personal experience, forms the foundation for our conservative approach to foot and lower extremity musculoskeletal problems.

Journal Articles and Scholarly Writing

• Julia L. Jacobs, et. al. “Passive Hallux Adduction Decreases Lateral Plantar Artery Blood Flow: A Preliminary Study of the Potential Influence of Narrow Toe Box Shoes.” Journal of Foot and Ankle Research. November 2019.
• Sarah T. Ridge, et. al. “Walking in Minimalist Shoes Is Effective for Strengthening Foot Muscles.” Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. January 2019.
• Simon Franklin, et. al. “Barefoot vs. Common Footwear: A Systematic Review of the Kinematic, Kinetic, and Muscle Activity Differences During Walking.” Gait & Posture. September 2015.
• Adam Richard Kelly. “The Effects of a Foot-Toe Orthosis on Dynamic Balance and Hallux Valgus Angle.” Theses and Dissertations. Paper 161. April 2014.
• Daniel Perl, Adam Daoud, and Daniel Lieberman. “Effects of Footwear and Strike Type on Running Economy.” Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. July 2012.
• Adam Daoud, et. al. “Foot Strike and Injury Rates in Endurance Runners: A Retrospective Study.” Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. July 2012.
• Daniel E. Lieberman. “What We Can Learn About Running From Barefoot Running: An Evolutionary Medical Perspective.” Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews. April 2012.
• Najia Shakoor, et. al. “The Effects of Common Footwear on Joint Loading in Osteoarthritis of the Knee.” Arthritis Care & Research. July 2010.
• Daniel E. Lieberman, et. al. “Foot Strike Patterns and Collision Forces in Habitually Barefoot Versus Shod Runners.” Nature. January 2010.
• William L. Jungers. “Biomechanics: Barefoot Running Strikes Back.” Nature. January 2010.
• Kerrigan DC, et. al. “The Effect of Running Shoes on Lower Extremity Joint Torques.” PM&R. December 2009.
• Dr. Craig Richards, et. al. “Is Your Prescription of Distance Running Shoes Evidence-Based?” British Journal of Sports Medicine. April 2008.
• Glenn Ingram, Jr., ND and Ray McClanahan, DPM. “Treatment of Plantar Fasciosis.” Naturopathic Doctor News & Review. March 2007.
• Bertrand Mafart. “Hallux Valgus in a Historical French Population: Paleopathological Study of 605 First Metatarsal Bones.” Joint Bone Spine. March 2007.
• Najia Shakoor and Joel A. Block. “Walking Barefoot Decreases Loading on the Lower Extremity Joints in Knee Osteoarthritis.” Arthritis & Rheumatism. September 2006.
• Kerrigan DC, et. al. “Moderate heeled shoes and knee joint torques relevant to the development and progression of knee osteoarthritis.” Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. May 2005.
• S.A. Mays. “Paleopathological Study of Hallux Valgus.” American Journal of Physical Anthropology. February 2005.
• Harvey Lemont, DPM, et. al. “Plantar Fasciitis: A Degenerative Process (Fasciosis) Without Inflammation.” Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association. May 2003.
• William A. Rossi, DPM. “Children’s Footwear: Launching Site for Adult Foot Ills.” Podiatry Management. October 2002.
• Michael Warburton. “Barefoot Running.” Sportscience. December 2001.
• William A. Rossi, DPM. “Fashion and Foot Deformation.” Podiatry Management. October 2001.
• DC Kerrigan, JL Lelas, and ME Karvosky. “Women’s shoes and knee osteoarthritis.” The Lancet April 2001.
• William A. Rossi, DPM. “Footwear: The Primary Cause of Foot Disorders.” Podiatry Management. February 2001.
• Joseph P. Laluya, DO, et. al. “Sports Medicine: Conservative Approach Benefits Athletes with Hallux Valgus.” Biomechanics. May 2000.
• William A. Rossi, DPM. “Why Shoes Make ‘Normal’ Gait Impossible.” Podiatry Management. March 1999.
• DC Kerrigan, MK Todd, and RO Riley. “Knee osteoarthritis and high-heeled shoes.” The Lancet. May 1998.
• Steven Robbins and Edward Waked. “Hazard of Deceptive Advertising of Athletic Footwear.” British Journal of Sports Medicine. 1997.
• Steven E. Robbins, Gerard J. Gouw, Jacqueline McClaran, and Edward Waked. “Protective Sensation of the Plantar Aspect of the Foot.” Foot & Ankle. Jul-Aug 1993.
• Udaya Bhaskara Rao and Benjamin Joseph. “The Influence of Footwear on the Prevalence of Flat Foot.” The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. July 1992.
• Steven E. Robbins and Gerard J. Gouw. “Athletic Footwear: Unsafe Due to Perceptual Illusions.” Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. February 1991.
• Steven E. Robbins and Gerard J. Gouw. “Athletic Footwear and Chronic Overloading.” Sports Medicine. February 1990.
• Steven E. Robbins, Gerard J. Gouw, and Adel M. Hanna. “Running-Related Injury Prevention Through Innate Impact-Moderating Behavior.” Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. April 1989.
• Steven E. Robbins, Adel M. Hanna, and Gerard J. Gouw. “Overload Protection: Avoidance Response to Heavy Plantar Surface Loading.” Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. February 1988.
• Steven E. Robbins and Adel M. Hanna. “Running-Related Injury Prevention Through Barefoot Adaptations.” Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 1987.
• Tadashi Kato and Showri Watanabe. “The Etiology of Hallux Valgus in Japan.” Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. June 1981.
• Mitsuo Morioka, Toyohiko Miura, and Kikuli Kimura. “Morphological and Functional Changes of Feet and Toes of Japanese Forest Workers.” Journal of Human Ergology. September 1974.
• Steel F. Stewart. “Footgear -- Its History, Uses and Abuses.” Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. 1972.
• Robert Maclennan. “Prevalence of Hallux Valgus in a Neolithic New Guinea Population.” The Lancet. June 1966.
• I. B. Shine. “Incidence of Hallux Valgus in a Partially Shoe-Wearing Community.” British Medical Journal. June 1965.
• B. Kalcev. “The Hallux Position in Natives of Madagascar.” East African Medical Journal. February 1963.
• Lam Sim-Fook and A. R. Hodgson. “A Comparison of Foot Forms Among the Non-Shoe and Shoe-Wearing Chinese Population.” The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. October 1958.
• R. Wheeler Haines and A. McDougall. “Shoe Design and the Great Toe.” The Lancet (Letters to the Editor). January 1954.
• F. W. Knowles. “Effects of Shoes on Foot Form: An Anatomical Experiment.” The Medical Journal of Australia. April 1953.
• Samuel B. Shulman. “Survey in China and India of Feet That Have Never Worn Shoes.” The Journal of the National Association of Chiropodists. 1949.
• Clifford S. James. “Footprints and Feet of Natives of the Solomon Islands.” The Lancet. December 1939.
• Earl T. Engle and Dudley J. Morton. “Notes on Foot Disorders Among Natives of the Belgian Congo.” The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. 1931.
• Philip Hoffman. “Conclusions Drawn From a Comparative Study of the Feet of Barefooted and Shoe-Wearing Peoples.” The American Journal of Orthopedic Surgery. October 1905.

Magazine Articles, Online Articles, and Blog Articles

• Heel Thyself by Virginia Daffron, February 2019.
• Correct Toes & Circulation by Marty Hughes, DC, July 2015.
• The Most Technologically Advanced Shoe Ever Made by Moses Goldstein, MNT, November 2014.
• How Healthy Are Your Feet? by Natural Running Center, August 2013.
• Rethink Traditional Assumptions When Choosing Running Shoes by Adam Hodges, PhD. Alp Fitness, May 2013.
• Natural Solutions for Your Patients' Foot and Ankle Ailments by Robyn Hughes, ND & Ray McClanahan, DPM. Dynamic Chiropractic Practice Insights, August 2012.
• Tackling the 10 Myths of Barefoot Running by Nicholas A. Campitelli, DPM. Podiatry Today, January 2012.
• My Progress with Correct Toes + Minimal Shoes by Dennis Claire, DPM. Natural Foot Health & Wellness, December 2011.
• The Once and Future Way to Run by Christopher McDougall. The New York Times, November 2011.
• Reform School for Toes by Sam Murphy. July 2011.
• Run Like a Child by John Douillard, DC. LifeSpa.com, 2011.
• Much Ado About Minimalism by Richard A. Lovett. Running Times, April 2010.
• Is the Key to Curing Plantar Fasciitis in Your Toes? by Richard A. Lovett. Running Times, April 2010.
• Study: Running Shoes Could Cause Joint Strain by Rachael Rettner. Live Science, January 2010.
• Barefoot Running May Be Better For You by Joseph Mercola, DO. Mercola.com, August 2009.
• Wiggling Their Toes at the Shoe Giants by Amy Cortese. The New York Times, August 2009.
• Barefoot Nation: Wanna Run Faster and Stronger? by Adrienne So. Willamette Week, May 2009.
• The Painful Truth About Trainers: Are Running Shoes a Waste of Money? by Christopher McDougall. Live Mag, April 2009.
• You Walk Wrong by Adam Sternbergh. New York Magazine, April 2008.
• Take Off Your Shoes and Walk by Simon J. Wikler, DSC.

Books

• Run for Your Life. Mark Cucuzzella. 2018
• Whole Body Barefoot. Katy Bowman. 2015
• The Story of the Human Body. Dan Lieberman. 2014.
• Core Training for Distance Runners. Jon Messner. 2014.
• Run Like an Athlete. Jay Dicharry. 2013.
• What Should I Put on My Feet to Go Run? John McClung. 2012.
• A Simple Guide to the Forefoot Step. Dirk Beckmann. 2012.
• Anatomy for Runners. Jay Dicharry. 2012.
• Tread Lightly. Bill Katovsky and Peter Larson. 2012.
• Chi Marathon. Danny and Katherine Dreyer. 2012.
• Run Barefoot Run Healthy. Ashish Mukharji. 2011.
• The Barefoot Book. Daniel Howell, PhD. 2010.
• Chi Running. Danny and Katherine Dreyer. 2009.
• Born to Run. Christopher McDougall. 2009.
• Chi Walking. Danny and Katherine Dreyer. 2006.

Web Resources

• Natural Running Center