Is it okay to run barefoot on a private treadmill?

I think that if it doesn’t hurt you and you want to do it, I see no problem with it.

Why not just wear socks? (If you’re worried about bacteria, that is.)

If this is about joints just… don’t worry about it. Millions of years of evolution have primed us to run without shoes. Get in touch with your natural side.

I don’t think it would be good for your feet or overall body. I think you need the support of the shoes to protect your self from injury. But other than that…..

@KhiaKarma It’s much better for your feet and body, actually. Shoes are more likely to injure you than anything else.

@KhiaKarma I think opinion is divided on the question of to shoe or not to shoe

I think barefoot would be better than in socks. You might slide with socks on.

My treadmill has grippy rubber that socks stick to perfectly. I just assumed everyone’s did.

If the question is not focused on injury but on cleanliness or couth, then it depends on the comfort level of everyone involved.

“Runners that had grown up wearing shoes struck the ground with their heel first, even when running shoeless, while those that had started running shoeless preferred the front-foot-strike. And, despite being barefoot, the runners who used the front-foot strike technique experienced less stress on their feet and legs than runners with thickly-cushioned shoes. It is less jarring to run barefoot using the front-foot-strike than to run in heel-strike fashion with even the best running shoes.” From an account of a recent Nature article.

“Running barefoot or in minimal shoes is fun but uses different muscles,” says Lieberman. “If you’ve been a heel-striker all your life you have to transition slowly to build strength in your calf and foot muscles.” Physorg Article.

Running shoes may cause damage to knees, hips and ankles. Another Physorg Article.

“By contrast, when running barefoot, people develop increased awareness (called proprioception) and sensitivity that allow them to land more evenly on the entire foot, Sharkey said. This helps to cushion and absorb the force of impact by using the foot’s natural force-damping mechanisms. “Depending on how they’re made, shoes can interfere with this natural shock-absorbing mechanism,” he noted.” More physorg articles.

With all the evidence that running barefoot is actually better than in shoes that has come to light recently, I’d say go for it. This new research has inspired such new shoe designs as the Nike Vibram. Here is a very informative website with lots more info. The site has a front page article now that mentions the book “Born to Run” which I saw on The Daily Show along with its author. Very interesting stuff!

@delirium you must have hard ass feet, runnin around with no shoes and all.

There are also the little ankle socks with stuff on the bottom to keep you from slipping. They are available at drug stores (and for free in hospitals, if you are admitted).

I think @ubersiren gave the best answer so far.

I personally wouldn’t do it, only because I broke my left foot about 5 years ago..and even being in flip flops or flat boots can hurt after an extended period (which stinks because I love wearing flip flops)
But, if I didn’t have that problem, then I’d go barefoot. I don’t think it affects the joints at all. Running in general is a little rough on the joints, I’d say probably more so on the knees than feet.

I find that I need the arch and ankle support. Running barefoot would be painful for me. I do most of my running cross-country either in running shoes or on skis.

@stranger_in_a_strange_land you can run in skis?

@KhiaKarma HURRY UP AND ANSWER ALREADY!

@bigboss does it matter? I am getting sidetracked then my computer messed up

@KhiaKarma im just joking lol i keep seeing the green box popping up

ok. Another try. I believe that we are are acculturated in many ways to wear shoes, etc. Now wether that is good, or not who knows. I would be more prone to injury b/c I did not learn to run barefoot.

I am the slowest typer! :)

Thanks, @casheroo! I wonder what research has been done about prior injuries and barefoot running. It would be worth checking out.

I used to run without shoes on the cement and nothing ever happened except that my feet became like cement!I have also walked on the treadmill without shoes and mt feet got hot!Just put shoes on,damnit!lol!:)

@bigboss Yes, cross country skis. I used to compete in Winter Biathlon (I was alternate on the US team in ‘76).

@ubersiren That product page has some great reviews… “I feel like I am a spartan warrior preparing for battle…I sometimes find myself running so hard I throw up, then I just laugh and run right back to my car it’s great.” Emphasis mine.

Unless you urinate on it and walk on broke glass first, I don’t see why not.

I mean, you sometimes wear your shoes without socks right?

Most manufacturers of treadmills recommend that you not run on them without shoes. It’s rather easy to damage your feet when you run on them barefoot.

For those interested, I did decide to try the barefoot running on the treadmill. And about 1 min after I got done I had a blister on my left foot which hurts like a…well let’s just say it hurts a lot. It’s probably just something you have to get used to though.

I want to point out that there are a lot of barefoot running zealots out there but minimal actual barefoot running research. And the research that has been done, especially the Lieberman et al. Nature article, tends to look at the mechanics of running rather than injury rate. It is a bit of a leap to assume that a shifted or increased impact load necessarily causes injury; we may just need to use different muscles to compensate.

Beyond that, you can be a forefoot striker in supportive running shoes. (I am proof!) So I would reserve judgment on the superiority of barefoot running until we see specifically that injury rates in barefoot forefoot strikers < injury rates in shod forefoot strikers.

To try to actually answer your question, treadmills tend to put less stress on your body than running on concrete or asphalt, so you should be all set if you want to try it again. I hear barefoot running takes some getting used to.

@andrew Lol… so what are you saying?

Also be aware that the first part of the body to lose fat as we age, is, oddly, the bottoms of our feet. So there is less padding. I used to be able to go barefoot a lot but now the soles of my feet burn when I try it.

Bless the padded running shoe.

Personally i think running with shoes are the best way to go. Treadmill belts are rough and coarse and running on them barefoot of an extended amount of time will cause calluses to form. Also think of why shoes were developed. They are there to provide cushioning for your feet that will reduce impact on your ankles, knees and spine.