Spring is Here; Leave the Flip Flops in the Closet!

At Elite Athlete Athlete Training Systems we are huge proponents of training barefoot. Our footwear choices impact how we move. It’s important to choose footwear that allows your feet to function as they were intended to function. Your feet lead the way when it comes to your interactions with the world and determine how the rest of our body orients itself. In short, the footwear you choose will impact how you move, how you perform and will impact your long-term health.

Minimalist footwear or better still, bare feet, will increase your ability to perform your best and reduce wear and tear throughout the whole body, by simply allowing your feet to function as they were intended. On the other hand, dysfunctional footwear (modern running/gym shoes/Flip Flops) will throat punch you with poor performance and over the long haul leave you full of aches and pains.

So, Flip Flops seem pretty minimalist; why do E.A.T.S. coaches discourage their athletes from wearing them?

It turns out walking is complex. Our natural gait (walking) requires synchronized recruitment of more than 30 joints and 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments – some of which start in the lower leg and extend to the toes. These muscles, tendons, and ligaments work together to properly align the load-bearing structures upstream in the body while simultaneously managing force distribution at the foot, ankle, knee and hip.

The single biggest issue with Flip Flops is how they impact our natural gait pattern. Flip Flops inhibit the synchronization required for a natural gait pattern. To keep flip flops on your feet, you have to grip them with your toes. This can lead to a change in the muscle activation patterns in the foot and lower leg, which can affect your overall gait pattern. A change to your natural gait pattern can lead to muscle fatigue and overuse injuries like tendinitis.

So, let the dogs out this summer and experience the joy of a barefoot lifestyle.