According to a recent study published in the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation’s journal PM&R, your running shoes may be contributing to osteoarthritis. D. Casey Kerrigan, MD, who conducted the research while at the University of Virginia, analyzed knee torque and the direction and magnitude of force on the leg joints of 68 recreational runners—and found potential damage akin to walking in high heels all day.
Still, Kerrigan says runners shouldn’t throw away their high-tech Reeboks just yet. Because modern-day running surfaces are harder than ancestral ones, running barefoot isn’t much better for the body (yet). In the meantime, consider a shoe with a balanced height ratio between the rear and forefoot, or take a look at some of the “barefoot technology” that’s already emerging.
Read more about the anti-shoe revolution.
