More Info About Vibram FiveFingers

Vibram FiveFingers
Vibram FiveFingers is a type of shoe manufactured by Vibram. Originally developed as a “barefoot alternative” for sailing and climbing, the footwear has thin, flexible soles that are contoured to the shape of the human foot. It was named by Time Magazine as one of the best inventions of 2007, and is becoming popular among barefoot runners. The shoe now comes in several varieties, many of which incorporate special features, such as straps or insulation, for specific outdoor activities like sprinting or kayaking. A new model, the Bikila, due this April (and named after the famous barefoot runner Abebe Bikila), has a new sole designed for running in particular. It is expected to retail for 100 USD.

Vibram claims that normal running shoes alter the natural biomechanics of running. Specifically, they argue that a raised, cushioned heel causes the heel to strike the ground heavily. In contrast, they claim that a "barefoot" style running and walking is safer, may lead to fewer injuries, and is biomechanically more sound from an energy and force distribution standpoint. Vibram advertises that use of the FiveFingers can strengthen muscles in the feet and legs, increase range of motion in ankle, improve balance and proprioception, and improve posture.

Scientific findings
There is scientific evidence to support some of the benefits of barefoot running. For over 20 years, there has been concern that the use of running shoes results in biomechanical adaptations that interfere with the natural shock-absorbing mechanisms, and may result in increased chronic exercise-related injuries. Subsequently, many studies have questioned the utility of running shoes, and some have gone so far as to conclude that expensive running shoes are deceptively advertised, increase the potential for injury, and constitute a public health risk. Recent studies have shown that low to mid priced running shoes provide as much cushioning as highly-priced models, and that claims of increased cushioning may result in changes in gait that increase impact force. In this period, no study has provided scientific evidence for recommending the use of running shoes to reduce injury.

Although many studies have questioned the value of running shoes, none has drawn a definitive link between running shoes and chronic exercise-related injuries. Such a conclusive finding may require prospective studies and randomized controlled trials of barefoot and shod running, which have not yet been performed. However, studies have found evidence for some benefits of barefoot running.

Barefoot runners adjust their gait to reduce the force of the impact on their heel, increasing the work of the foot's soft tissue support structures. This likely results in increasing foot strength (a fact recognized by Nike).

Recent studies have shown that the FiveFingers likely provide the same benefits as barefoot running. Squadrone & Gallozzi have shown that experienced barefoot runners wearing FiveFingers adopted biomechanics that more resembled barefoot running than shod running. They concluded that running in FiveFingers successfully reproduced much of the biomechanics of barefoot running while providing minimal protection.

Although barefoot running does result in modified biomechanics, there is mixed evidence to suggest that it results in improved health or decreased chronic injuries. In regions where barefoot and shod runners coexist, injury rates of the lower extremity are substantially higher in the shod population. Additionally, exercise-related lower leg injuries are rare in developing countries, where most runners are barefooted. However, these correlational data are inconclusive and could be caused by a number of factors, including selection bias. Running barefoot while heel-striking (landing on the heel) has been shown to increase pronation (a risk factor for exercise-related lower leg pain), but running-shoes facilitate heel-striking.

When running barefoot one should land on the ball of the foot (as opposed to heel-striking) but correlation between pronation and barefoot running with proper technique (landing on the ball of the foot, among other things) has not been tested.

Vibram
Vibram S.p.A. is an Italian company based in Albizzate that both manufactures and licenses the production of Vibram branded rubber outsoles for footwear. The company is named after its founder, Vitale Bramani. Bramani is credited with inventing the first rubber soles for shoes. These soles were first used on mountaineering boots.

The soles produced by Vibram are called Vibram soles, Vibram rubber, or simply 'Vibram'.

History
In 1935, the deaths of six of Bramani's mountaineering friends in the Italian Alps was partly blamed on inadequate footwear. The tragedy drove Vitale Bramani to develop a new climbing sole. Two years later, he patented his invention and launched the first rubber soles on the market with a tread design called the 'Carrarmato', with the financial backing of Leopoldo Pirelli of Pirelli Tires. The sole was designed to provide excellent traction on the widest range of surfaces, have a high degree of abrasion resistance and was made using the latest vulcanized rubber of the time.

In 1954, the first ever successful summit of K2 was made by an Italian expedition wearing Vibram rubber on their soles.

Vibram Now
Today, Vibram soles are manufactured in Brazil, China, Italy and the USA, and are used by more than 1,000 footwear manufacturers in their footwear products.

In the USA, Vibram soling products are manufactured under exclusive license by Quabaug Corporation.

Although the brand is best known among the outdoor and mountaineering community, Vibram produces numerous models of soles specifically designed for fashion, military, rescue, law enforcement or industrial use. Vibram also produces soles for the sole purpose of footwear resoling.

Among the footwear manufacturers that use Vibram soles on their products are Red Wing Shoes, Wesco, Ugg, Teva, The North Face, Tsubo, Scarpa, Meindl, Garmont, La Sportiva, Salewa, Crispi, Pro-tec, Rohan, Merrell, Timberland, Chaco, L.L. Bean, Lowa, Wolverine, Asolo, Tecnica, Rockport, Columbia Sportswear, Nike-ACG, Hi-Tec, Limmer, Montrail, Frye, Mountain Equipment CO-OP and Danner. Some high profile collaborations include Giorgio Armani, Prada Sports, Dolce & Gabbana, Lundhags, Hugo Boss and Alden Shoe Company.

Shop Vibram FiveFingers now on www.sotobuy.com nike outlet jordan shoes store.