The Purpose of Our Toes.
Just a little something to think about. (Excerpt from my upcoming book Running in a Minimalist Shoe)
Have you ever wondered why we have toes? Consider the intricacy of our toes. There are three bones in each toe (two in the big toe) and 4 to 5 muscles attaching to the various bones. More muscles attach to the toes then any other part of the foot. Yet, what do we do to our toes? We squeeze them into the narrow toebox of a traditional running shoe rendering them basically useless. Our toes are designed to grab the ground and stabilize the foot in preparation for landing. By waking them up, strengthening them, and letting them function can greatly improve the overall function of the foot leading to improved running.
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About The Author
Dr. Nick Campitelli
Dr. Campitelli is a podiatrist in Akron, OH specializing in foot and ankle surgery with an interest and enthusiasm for running as well as helping runners with injuries. For the past several years he has been treating running injuries in patients by fixing their form and transitioning them to minimalist shoes. Having treated runners with all types of injuries through conservative measures with orthotics and shoe gear changes to reconstructive foot and ankle surgery, Dr. Campitelli has brought what works best and is most current to his practice as well as the Akron and Cleveland running communities.
Now that the weather is turning colder here in Richmond, VA, I have attempted to wear socks under my airy minimalist shoes on a few runs recently. Each run was miserable with the socks; my feet and Achilles were fatigued and uncomfortable for the duration of the run and afterwards. I feel like I cannot exercise and grip my toes properly with the socks on my feet. This week I braved the cold and left the socks at home. Any suggestions about winter running? I think I may develop some sort of toe covers similar to those I use over my cycling cleats in the winter.