The running economy of runners improved notably after wearing Vibram FiveFingers in a gradual four-week process, according to a study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. The study also found that at the end of the four-week familiarization process, the runners were much more economical in FiveFingers than in conventional running shoes.
The report was first reported in the U.S. by Runners World Newswire.
According to Runners World, the study analyzed the running economy of 15 experienced runners as they gradually transitioned to running in FiveFingers. The subjects had an average 1500-meter PR of 4:00, which is equivalent to about a 4:17 mile.
At the beginning of the study, researchers at Dublin City University measured the subjects running economy twice, once while the subjects ran in conventional training shoes (the Asics Nimbus) and once in Vibram FiveFingers. When their running economy was first measured, they were slightly more economical (1.05 percent) in FiveFingers than when wearing the Nimbus.
Runners World said the results were consistent with other studies showing sligthly better economy in short tests, largely due to the lightweight of minimal shoes.
After four weeks, the runners were more than 8 percent more economical in the FiveFingers than they had been in the same shoes at the beginning of the study. Reserachers concluded that the improvement was due to neuromuscular control rather than changes in running form.
