

Alissa Kuizinas, a podiatrist in Concord, Massachusetts. “Those who overpronate may need extra time to transition or may benefit from some arch support inside of their minimalist shoe,” says Dr. However, heel strikers and those who overpronate (roll their feet inward) and underpronate (roll their feet to the outer edges) are probably better off steering clear of minimalist running shoes, Dr. Minimalist running shoes are also a good choice for runners with a neutral gait. A small 2013 study in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found that forefoot strikers had lower patellofemoral stress (pain in the front of your knee or around your kneecap) and knee frontal plane movement (side-to-side movement) than rearfoot strikers. Alex Kor, a podiatrist at Witham Health Services in Lebanon, Indiana, and fellow of the American Society of Podiatric Surgeons.īy keeping the weight in their forefoot, these runners put less stress on their knees and low back. “Generally, the runners who do well with minimalist shoes are those who are forefoot strikers - meaning they keep their weight in the forefoot and land on the ball of their foot - and high-arch forefoot strikers,” says Dr. Because they don’t have all the bells and whistles that come with traditional running sneakers, minimalist shoes aren’t for everyone. They also often have a zero drop, which means the heel and toes are the same height. Minimalist running shoes provide little to no support, such as arch support and heel cushioning, and are designed to strengthen the intrinsic muscles in your feet, so they function more naturally. Plus, we asked experts to share their top picks. Read on to learn what minimalist running shoes are and if they’re the right fit for you. Minimalist shoes have become all the rage because they help strengthen the feet. And then there are minimalist running shoes, which many also call barefoot shoes. When it comes to the running shoes, you’ve probably heard of pairs that provide shock absorption and stability features to help with over- or underpronation. However, Footwear News may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors.
