Running is competitive distance running and builds a training tool in many sports and recreational activities. Competitive running approaches to performance enhancement while prime aims of recreational running are maintenance or improvement of the capacity of the cardiovascular system. Performance advantages of barefoot running estimated by oxygen consumption measurements vary substantially and the differences to shod running occurs marginal as soon as results are shoe mass adjusted. Barefoot running does not provide significant advantage in running performance or running economy. It is accepted that barefoot training is effective for foot health and strength. But one can question if running is the proper training tool. Recreational runners of different age and performance groups are not different to non-runners in regard to muscle strength or muscle volume. Other activities than running should be more appropriate to enhance muscular strength. This is also valid for the small muscles crossing the ankle joint and the intrinsic foot musculature. A prospective barefoot running protocol recently demonstrated only marginal effects of minimal shoe running on the intrinsic foot muscles. volume (Miller et al. 2014). Barefoot running changes footfall pattern of habitual shod runners particularly and is related to increasing ankle joint and foot mechanical loading. Recent scientific approaches have shown prospective evidence that barefoot or minimal shoe running protocols are associated with a higher risk of injury and an increased occurrence of bone marrow edema than in shod running. A transition to minimalistic shoes should transition very slowly to avoid potential stress injury of the foot.
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