Vibram Lawsuit

Jun 05, 2014

About a month ago I posted about the claim from the media and running magazines that the minimalism trend was over or fading and my response to this. Over the rest of the year it should be interesting to see what happens with the current lawsuit that has been filed against Vibram and their five finger product. Just to be clear, the lawsuit is not about wearing these shoes causing injury, but the fact that Vibram has made claims that has not been backed by research, wearing their shoes will do the following:

Five Fingers

1. strengthen muscles in the feet and lower legs
2. improve range of motion in the ankles, feet, and toes
3. stimulate neural function important to balance and agility
4. eliminate heel lift to align the spine and improve posture
5. allow the foot and body to move naturally

This is very true there is minimal evidence proving this, but I would like to address these statements with some personal and clinical experience. Just to re-iterate I am not saying that these are claims from Vibram are true just a few things to think about from another perspective.

Five Fingers

1. strengthen muscles in the feet and lower legs. I consider a traditional running shoe (limited flexibility and preventing certain movements) like a brace, so an analogy would be wearing a semi-rigid wrist brace (no injury) and going to the gym and doing wrist curls, to strengthen your forearm. do you think it would benefit you more to work your wrist without the brace?
2. improve range of motion in the ankles, feet, and toes. hard to really prove, but wearing a traditional running shoe does seem to limit certain movements and change how we run.
3. stimulate neural function important to balance and agility. When I am working with a client in the clinic with a lower extremity injury, I always incorporate balance exercises into the exercise program. When I get a client to do these exercises I have them barefoot. This is something I have done prior to the barefoot running trend taking off a few years ago.
4. eliminate heel lift to align the spine and improve posture. This statement in theory makes sense, yes being barefoot puts you in a more natural posture compared to a shoe that has a heel to forefoot height difference, but does it help to improve your posture?
5. allow the foot and body to move naturally. I have come across many studies and videos, showing the difference between running shod and running barefoot. When you put on a pair of shoes generally we do alter the way we run, especially with an increased heel toe drop. Our body has been designed to reduce impact naturally when we run or walk. Do we want to alter that with a running shoe or promote it?

On the opposite side of the spectrum, the running shoe industry pushes that their shoes offer more protection and cushioning and better support, but their advertising is less blatant as Vibram’s claims. It is tough to find conclusive research that wearing a shoe that provides more cushioning, pronation or supination control, helps you run better, or prevents injuries. Some studies show that really it does not matter if we are fitted for the proper shoe or not. All the talk of cushioning and support when you run sounds more re-assuring than a thin piece of rubber under our foot.

I think there is a place for Vibram and running shoes and we need to work on finding a common ground. I do see that trend happening in footwear, but these things take time. I have a pair of very minimal shoes that I will continue to use a tool to maintain my form and strengthen my foot. I will also continue to purchase shoes that are minimal and offer some protection but do not alter the way I naturally run.



Please add your bio info through your member profile page, or through your dashboard.


Posted By


Tag Cloud

easter mondayBest Physiotherapistgreat white north triathlonelbow painurgent care physiotherapyparadebasketball injuriesrib painankle sprains in athleteseasteracupuncture#fundraisingSwimcanadian trailsbellerose bike a thontennis elbowcupping therapyglute strengtheningifcwhy active physio worksmarathon trainingfrozen shoulderdeath race training planshoulder painUrinary Incontinenceitulow back paindry needlingshockwavewinter runningcortisonecovid 19 rehab and rebowen therapyheadachesfamilysoccer injuriesphysiotherapy albertaswimmerctv morning liveSAPECback painwarm hearthikinghockeycanada day paradeneck paincold weather runningphysiotherapycharitypre-natal fitnessrehabilitationspin classpelvic health physiotherapybarefoot runningITU World Grand Final Triathlon Edmontonmedical mission to Ecuadorrecoverygrand openingadaptive cyclingcyclingknee painst albert triathlongolf#msbikeGLA:D™partner massagepelvic healthGunn theory of IMSremembrance dayreaders choice awardsstretchingwhat is physiotherapyrunning with babyms bike tour leduc to camroseTMJtext neckregistered massage therapyyogaWTS Edmonton#teamrehablateral epicondylitisfort saskatchewan chamber of commerceultra runningheel painfundraisingcustom fit compression stockingslegacy park family festivalrunning injuriesironman canadaintraoral massageMS Bike Tour 2020st. albert road racevertigoPhysiotherapy funding in Albertastrengtheningdizzinessconcussion recoveryholiday hoursankle sprainneedlingexplore albertaPostureair relaxtraining planedmonton physiotherapistinjury preventionactive physio worksshoulderroad race10kmpelvic girdle painSI joint painconcussionPHYSIOTHÉRAPIE EN FRANCAISflexibilityvictoria daySt. Albert TriathlonDiastasis Rectus Abdominis (DRA)complete concussion management inc.volunteermassagesports injuryst. albert chamber of commercermtGLA:D™ knee program10milerHawrelak Parkwrist paingait analysisfootballcanada dayOsteoarthritismagrathathlete injuryreturn to sportswimmingyegbikeMS Bikedraw prize10 milerimPACT testingyou can ride 2volleyballdown and dirty obstacle courseheatbowen techniquecovid 19scapulatelerehabcupping therapy in st albertworld grand final edmontoncommunityshoulder massagecervogenic headachesrunning formrestworking from hometurkey on the trailsrunning footwearactive physio works teamgolf injuriescorncupping in st albertSt. Albertst alberthip painplantar faciitislifestyle expoMS Bike Leduc to Camrosemuscle tightnessfoot painpelvic flooravoiding injuryknee replacementpelvic health physiotherapistIT band syndromeclinic closurecommunity runACL injuriesgolfer's elbowcovid 19 updatecovid 19 rehab and recoverypole walkingfast trax ultradirect billingmassage therapyplantar fasciitistrapezius strengtheningfoam rollerpine to palmITU World Triathlon Grand Final Edmontonconcussion mythsAlberta Health Services funded Physiotherapyachillies tendinopathybackpack safetyWinter Injury Preventionpregnancy back paincouch to 5kpatellar tendonitis100 mileyegphysiotriathlonprolapselost souls ultrafirst appointmentworld championshipsinjection therapyvirtual rehabedmontonpiraformis syndromePFPSprehab before rehabRunhip impingmentyegfitness1km kids fun runhockey injuryinjuryoperation esperanzaconcussion managementachillestrail runwarm handsmodalitiesrunning techniquereturn to runningGLA:D™ back programstroller runningpregnant runnerracingyardworkhiking in the mountainstrapscycling injury preventionthoracic spine mobility#activephysioworksglobal edmontoncommunity eventsports concussionconcussions in sportdraw prizesheadachethoracic spinedave proctorfort saskatchewanpainupper back paintaperclinic screeningobstacle courseconcussion testingankle injurieskids of steel triathlonshockwave physioyou can ride twophysiotherapiearthritis of the spinegood fridaytreatment for headachessleepSCAT 35km obstacle courserunning gaitGLA:D® St. Albertmud runout run rarefundraiserstrength trainingknee injuryctv edmonton5kmGLA:D® Edmontonguided massageDiastasis Rectist albert road racecore strengtheningdeath raceedmonton oilerswhatever it takesiron legsrunning after babyricemechanical stressclinic updatesmall business nomineecovid19running shoesextended health careslip and fallsrunningarthritisbaseline testingsouth edmontonpost covid 19 programpricecovid 19 rehabglute strengthfort saskatchewan trade showstem cellrunners kneeGLA:D®Health Information Actconcussion in sporttreating sports injuriesSI jointkidsphysio for golfservus placetournamentfasciastrengthpost covid programmale pelvic healthstaying fit while pregnanttreatment planwarm hands, warm hearts runpelvic organ prolapseConnor McDavidBPPVcompressioncommunity involvementphysiotherapy for cancer patientsrental car motor vehicle accidenttrade showms bike tour 2019iceworld physical therapy daybest of T8NTeam RehabIMSRacephysical therapyjaw pain#labourforlovemyofascial cupping therapyms bike tourultrarunnermotor vehicle accidentst albert 10 milerfestivalfitness programcarpal tunnelexercise programwork from homeaquathonbreathworkultrarunningPRPcuppingcancer careIntramuscular Stimulationrotator cuff tearACLtrail runningrotator cuffvirtual carerunning during pregnancypreventing sports injuries5kconussion in sportultramarathonsecondary submittingcovid protocolsneedling techniquesschoolhip replacementregistered massage therapisttrainingmarathonultrapiraformisactive physio works 5kmDRAclavicle fracturewhat to expectprotectshin splintsWPTDsafe exercises during pregnancylong covidvestibular rehabilitationBikeshockwave therapyroad runningroast


Archive

What to Expect

We understand that you may have a few questions before visiting our clinics for your initial appointment.

Book an Appointment

Book in for an appointment with one of our qualified Active Physio Works Physiotherapists &
Registered Massage Therapists.

Treatments

We understand each person is different so we offer a variety of techniques that are best suited to your individual needs.