‘Toe shoes’ rule at odds with medical officials - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

‘Toe shoes’ rule at odds with medical officials

Despite concerns from its own medical professionals, the Navy has decided to reverse a policy that prohibits Vibram FiveFingers shoes and other minimalist athletic footwear in certain situations.

In a fleetwide message released Aug. 5, the Navy expressly allows the shoes, which are designed with little to no support or cushioning in an attempt to mimic the sensations of barefoot running. Devotees of the shoes say they reduce the likelihood of injuries, but the sports medicine community has mixed feelings about the footwear.

The policy specifically allows the wearing of “shoes that allow the foot to function naturally without providing additional support or cushioning” with the physical training uniform. They may be worn during command and individual physical training as well as the physical readiness test.

The Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery has concerns about the bare-bones shoes and has warned against their use.

“With musculoskeletal injuries as the No. 1 deployment limiting condition among military personnel, Navy leadership must take responsibility for the safety and well-being of our personnel during unit physical training. While intended for running, barefoot-style running mechanics have not been determined to be safe or effective for all runners,” BUMED spokeswoman Shoshona Pilip-Florea said.

“Encouraging the appropriate footwear for an activity is the first line of defense against sports-related injuries. Therefore, given the current evidence, Navy Medicine cannot recommend the use of minimalist footwear in command directed physical training activities.”

Recently, the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center and the Center for Personal and Professional Development reviewed medical literature on minimalist shoes and found insufficient evidence to prove or disprove that the shoes are effective or safe. The review also determined that the shoes strengthen arches, reduce pronation — where either the inner or outer edge of the foot strikes the ground first — and encourage softer landings.

‘It works for me’

Vibrams are popular with special warfare operators and are a common sight during their training sessions.

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (SW/AW) Rick West is also an aficionado, but acknowledged that the shoes aren’t for everybody. “I do still run with them, and it works for me,” he said.

West urged sailors to educate themselves about minimalist shoes — and the style of running required while wearing them — before they buy them.

“I don’t promote them; I also don’t say not to get them,” West said. “But I do think it really boils down to the preference of the individual and to what works best for them.”

West said he is aware of the ongoing debate in the military and in the fitness world about the shoes.

“For everything that’s been said out there that’s negative, there’s just as many positives,” West said of the shoes. “There’s an appropriate time and place to use them, and there are certain sports these shouldn’t be used in.”

West said that he expects sailors to use common sense in deciding when using the shoes and says they should educate themselves before using them.

“The message I want to get across is that these shoes are probably not for everybody,” he said.

West said he read Christopher McDougall’s book, “Born to Run,” about a Mexican Indian tribe that runs hundreds of miles in flimsy sandals.

“I bought them initially because of the curiosity thing. ... I wanted to see what the hype was all about.”

Most people run with their heels striking the ground before their toes, he said, while these shoes promote running mostly on the balls of the feet.

“This will change the way you run,” he said. “If you do decide to buy this type of shoes, what’s important is to start out slow — like you would with any pair of shoes you would buy.

“I want sailors to be safe, but also make the right choice for themselves.”