We originally evolved to walk and run barefoot, and when you do this you naturally use a forefoot landing because a heel landing would be too painful. This means that your calf muscle absorbs the energy as you land, instead of the shock running up your leg. This shock can cause shin splints, knee problems, and even lower back pain. It turns out that some injured runners find that the only way they can run is barefoot, and some track programs have their runners sometimes train barefoot. This group, Barefooters.org, has collected some of the relevant medical papers that have been published on this issue. Another advocacy site worth looking at is Running Barefoot.
Tags: Anarcho-Primitivism, Barefoot, Hunter Gatherer, Natural Living, Primitivism, Rewilding