Matt Metzgar

Children's Shoes

There are many misperceptions involving what is appropriate footwear for children.  From an evolutionary perspective, it is obvious that allowing children to be in bare feet as much as possible is the natural and correct path to healthy foot development.  

Finally, researchers are using this assumption as a starting point in researching children's shoes.  In this new study, the authors state: "Based on the assumption that barefoot walking represents the best condition for the development of a healthy foot ..."  The study goes on to conclude that "slimmer and more flexible children's shoes do not change foot motion as much as conventional shoes and therefore should be recommended not only for children in this age but for healthy children in general."

In other words, thin and flexible shoes are the recommended shoes for children of all ages.  Of course, bare feet is best, but when shoes are necessary, it's best to choose as minimal of a shoe as possible.  Some of the children's shoes I've seen at the mall are just plain awful.  Massive heels and stiff soles - you might as well put the child in combat boots.  How can feet properly develop if they don't have any stimulation?

As far as specific brands, pediped produces infant/toddler shoes that are thin and flexible, and are one of the few (if not the only) brands approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association.

Shoes and Ankle Injuries

Here is a new study that points out additional problems with modern shoes.  The study proposes that shoes may dispose the wearer to lateral ankle ligament injury.  Shoes do this by reducing awareness of foot position.  Then, in response to a sudden movement, the muscles may "overreact" due to lack of immediate feedback that would happen with bare feet.  This stronger-than-needed muscle contraction may dispose the wearer to injury.

Barefoot Walking is Better

Here's a study(pdf) that compared barefoot walking versus walking in shoes in subjects with knee osteoarthritis.  The study "observed relative load reductions of nearly 12% at the knee and 4–11% at the hip merely by walking barefoot."

Also, the authors are speculating two ways in which modern shoes can be bad for the knees:

"Thus, it is possible that soles of modern shoes may increase joint torques compared with the flexible movement of a bare foot. A final explanation of the biomechanical advantages of barefoot walking may be attributed to increased proprioceptive input from skin contact with the ground compared with an insulated foot contacting the ground."

Crossfit Endurance II

This video shows some amazing changes in three runners, over just a two day period!

Haile Gebrselassie

Here's a neat slow-motion video of legendary runner Haile Gebrselassie, showing excellent running form.

Persistence Hunting II

Here is a good paper(pdf) that further discusses the relationship between endurance running and human evolution.  This continues the question of whether humans are "born to run", as I wrote about recently.

Videophilia

One thing that's fairly obvious to me is that people (and children especially) are spending less and less time outdoors.  If you want some research, here's a study that shows how people are moving away from outdoor recreation.

I see lots of explanations for why this is happening:  It's not safe to allow children to play outside.  Kids are busy with homework and structured activity.  Neighborhoods aren't designed for walking and playing.

While these things may be true, they are relatively minor reasons for the decline.  I think the cause is much simpler -  in a word, electronics.  This includes tv, video games, the internet, and other associated devices.  All this even has a fancy name now, "videophilia", which is the "new human tendency to focus on sedentary activities involving electronic media."

What interesting to me is how this trend parallels the obesity crisis.  Simple carbs are something the body is not capable of handling.  They are superstimuli, similar to drugs and alcohol.  They provide a temporary high that, over time, can lead to addiction.

Videophilia seems to work along the same lines.  People get sucked into electronic media not because it's benefiting them, but because it provides a high level of stimulation.  In comparison, nature can seem "boring". 

I can attest to the seductiveness of videophilia.  A few times at work I've had to turn off my computer in order to get my real work accomplished.  Electronic distractions are too easily accesible nowadays.

Unfortunately, I don't see much to stop this trend.  There is nothing that is built in by evolution that will lead people to make better choices about these things.  Only the slow road of analysis, education and persistence will lead to change.

Freedom to Learn

I have been following this excellent blog which looks at education from a hunter-gatherer perspective.  The newest entry deals with legislation which will effectively "force" children to develop a relationship with nature.  Doesn't seem very natural to me...

Born to Run?

Here's a transcript of a science show that discusses evolution and human running.  One professor argues that anatomically, humans appear to be "built" for long-distance running.  Another professor argues that water played a more important role, and that humans mainly foraged in shallow water. 

At any rate, it's an interesting read.

Endurance Exercise and Aging

Here's a new study that looks at how endurance training delays aging.  The abstract has a few interesting statements such as:

• "Age-related decline in mitochondrial oxidative capacity was absent in endurance-trained individuals."

• "The results demonstrate that reduced insulin sensitivity is likely related to changes in adiposity and physical inactivity rather than an inevitable consequence of aging."

• "Furthermore, exercise may promote longevity through pathways common to effects of caloric restriction."

While the last statement shows that exercise may have similar effects as calorie restriction, you could also say that the effects of exercise are similar to intermittent fasting as well.