When movie star Scarlett Johansson was photographed
naming in Los Angeles recently, she attracted a lot of attention; for the
27-year-old actress was wearing Vibram FiveFingers, so called because they look
more like gloves than shoes, with a space for each toe.
Strange though they may look, these so-called barefoot
shoes, which reproduce the effect of barefoot running but with less pain, are
just one brand in a range of minimalist footwear. These super-thin sports shoes
are causing a stir in the world of running and fitness. Why? Because some
experts believe they could make you a better, more efficient runner and
that traditional trainers could be doing you more harm than good.
"Wearing a shoe that has lots of cushioning and
support affects the way your body naturally moves and studies suggest that this
carries a higher risk of injury," explains Matt Wallden, an athlete
performance expert. "But with barefoot shoes, the foot can actually feel
the firmness and shape of the ground, which allows your body to respond
effectively.'"
But before you rush out to invest in minimalist
footwear, be careful. These kinds of shoes are not meant for everyone, or at
least not straight away.
"Ordinary sports shoes with support are good for
beginners whose bodies are not used to the impact of running," explains
Patrick Davoren, former Olympic athlete. "If you are not in great
condition, then running in minimalist footwear may cause injuries and will turn
a lot of people off exercise and running.
If you are currently injured, and figures show that in
any given year 65% of all runners are, it can be tempting to try anything that
promises to get you back on the road, trail, or beach. But barefoot running is
not a method of treating injury nor is it a magical way of suddenly turning you
into a great athlete.
Even if you're used to running, when you start using
minimalist shoes you should build up your distance gradually. Start_off'by
doing just 10% of what you'd normally run and increase the distance by no more
than 10% every week. And a word of warning - you may never have soft feet again
1.The Vibram FiveFingers are shoes ______.
A.specifically
designed for women
B.that have
lots of cushion inside
C.safest for
people who enjoy sports
D.that are much
thinner than normal sports shoes
2.The underlined word "they" in paragraph 2
refers to ________.
A.experts B.feet C.shoes D.runners
3.According to Matt Wallden, the new shoes ________.
A.make feet
more sensitive to the running surface
B.will produce
immediate improvements
C.force your
body to move less naturally
D.increase the
chances of getting hurt
4.The author suggests that new users of Vibram
FiveFingers should ________.
A.run in the shoes
every day at top speed
B.begin with a
shorter running distance than normal
C.occasionally
run barefooted to harden their feet
D.make sure
they are already very fit before using them
5.Where would you probably read this article?
A.A travel
book. B.A movie
website.
C.A sports
magazine. D.A science
journal.