most recent 30 from http://paleohacks.com 2013-05-22T08:19:26Z http://paleohacks.com/feeds/question/109611 http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/rdf http://paleohacks.com/questions/109611/does-wearing-paleo-footwear-make-you-more-prone-to-injury-in-neo-footwear Blossom1 2012-04-04T03:04:07Z 2012-04-18T00:00:48Z

<p>Disregarding that my "paleo" footwear is definitely made with "neo" materials - flat, thin-soled shoes or Vibram Five Fingers - I had a rather unpleasant encounter with high-ish heels. I put on a pair of somewhat unsturdy, 1.5" heels (not even that cute...the most "comfortable" shoe I felt I could get away with and not look homely) with round toe for a presentation...this is the first time I've worn heels and had to stand in them for a significant period of time (3 hours) in at least six months. Normally my rule is that pretty and impractical shoes only get worn if I'll be sitting a lot.</p> <p>I was in mid-flare of TMJD at the time and was then rewarded with a reappearance of of quadriceps tendonitis (sigh...the last time I saw it was several months ago). My knee/leg is so stiff that I walk like a person who needs a cane. Husband pronounced it nothing serious and set me up with some on-the-spot therapy (perks!) and ice, but it led me to wonder - do feet get "used" to "paleo" footwear? Does all of that talk of improved proprioception and muscle development produce feet that are even more acutely impacted by awful-but-pretty foot-traps (women's heels)?</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/109611/does-wearing-paleo-footwear-make-you-more-prone-to-injury-in-neo-footwear/109626#109626 Knarf 2012-04-04T05:10:16Z 2012-04-04T05:10:16Z

<p>I have not experienced this. The most I have probably noticed is slight soreness, as perhaps I use slightly different muscles when not in my Vibrams. As far as scientific evidence goes...I haven't stumbled upon any. You may get alot of n=1 answers. But that's mine. I wear them as much as possible. </p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/109611/does-wearing-paleo-footwear-make-you-more-prone-to-injury-in-neo-footwear/109632#109632 PrimalDanny 2012-04-04T07:08:57Z 2012-04-04T07:08:57Z

<p>I'd say stronger muscles will feel more stiffness and soreness if abused. But if you decided to then spend your life wearing heels then imagine how hard it may be trying to walk barefoot. And the runners will tell you that even the smaller heel of 'normal' shoes rendered them unable to run more than a minute or two barefoot until they adjust. Different sort of injuries of course.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/109611/does-wearing-paleo-footwear-make-you-more-prone-to-injury-in-neo-footwear/109644#109644 Chris 2012-04-04T12:13:14Z 2012-04-04T12:13:14Z

<p>I definitely have experienced this. I had worn a stability shoe for running with the normal 10mm drop, then switched VFF's for strength training and walking for a few months without running much, and if I did it was in the VFFs. Tried going back to running in the stability shoe, and couldn't make it more than two miles. Ankles, knees, feet, and hips all felt goofy, like I was running in high heels. I couldn't control my strike with all that gunk tied around my feet, and my muscles HURT being forced to conform to the shoes.</p> <p>I can't imagine what it would be like wearing even a small heel for a day of standing. You've definitely got different/stronger muscles at play now that you've been wearing minimal shoes for awhile, so it's going to feel different, and probably not pleasant given the natural form of the foot and the contortions we make them do for fashion. </p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/109611/does-wearing-paleo-footwear-make-you-more-prone-to-injury-in-neo-footwear/109663#109663 Jen 2012-04-04T13:43:52Z 2012-04-04T13:43:52Z

<p>One important thing to consider is stride. How are you walking in your heels? If you are trying to walk in heels with the same stride as you have barefoot, you are going to run into trouble just the same as if you were trying to walk barefoot like you would in high heels.</p> <p>Use the mindfulness and proprioception you have learned through barefoot training and apply it when you walk in heels. If you never learned how to walk in heels, take a ballroom dance lesson or ask your grandma. </p> <p>I'm not saying high heels are a prescription for foot health. I'm saying that is you have to do it- and let's face it there are venues where you can't really show up in flats- do it properly and while your muscles may become sore if they have not been recently used, you won't hurt yourself. I switch between wearing my vibrams most of the time to very high heels for evening wear without a problem. </p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/109611/does-wearing-paleo-footwear-make-you-more-prone-to-injury-in-neo-footwear/112775#112775 Grace 2012-04-18T00:00:48Z 2012-04-18T00:00:48Z

<p>I think your feet just get used to wearing whatever you wear the most often. Two summers ago I lived in equestrian boots with a two inch heel, and was fine in them. For the past 6 months I've switched to mostly Vibrams, flip-flops, or other very thin-soled shoes. I just started training for a firefighting test where I have to wear boots and thick socks, and the first time I wore my boots to train in (it'd been about 6 months since I'd worn them) I ended up with terrrrible blisters and could definitely tell I was working different muscles than normal.</p> <p>So I'd say, just as you have to ease into wearing minimalist shoes, you also need to ease back into traditional shoes. </p>