Two essential components for injury free running are a well-balanced foot and  a shoe that doesn’t interfere with the design of the foot.

The complex movement within the joints of the feet allows adjustment to a variety of surfaces beneath them and constant adaptation to weight and movement above them.  A well-balanced foot distributes the impact from walking and running across the 26 bones, 32 joints, 56 ligaments and 38 muscles of each foot.   A rigid or collapsed foot and causes compensatory imbalances elsewhere in the body.  Poor articulation of the bones in the feet prevents smooth transfer of the body’s weight and relays the impact of the footfall as strain through muscle, bone and fascia upward into knees, hips and spine.  To the degree that the upper body braces to withstand this impact, the whole body loses articulation.  Rolfing balances the foot so that it can act as shock absorption and effortless propulsion.

“Once your foundation is improved, it is much easier to put
the rest of your house in order”  ~Leslie Kaminoff

more on barefoot footwear @       http://www.barefootrunning.fas.harvard.edu