Origin
Invented in 1999 by Robert Fliri, a design student from Vinschgau who wanted to "figure out a way to move around in nature better."Vibram FiveFingers were developed and introduced in 2005.
Idea to the selling phase was 6 years. Backyard inventors need to pay attention to this time lag and know that the first cash flow from an invention is even longer. Entrepreneurs might be sold the idea to develop within an existing business already enjoying income from other products.
Background
Vibram FiveFingers were originally targeted to yacht racers to maintain grip on slippery decks without compromising the barefoot experience.Their potential use as a minimalist running shoe was suggested to the Vibram CEO by Ted McDonald, a runner who earned the nickname "barefoot Ted" for his unshod feet and successful career as a barefoot running coach.
The purpose of these shoes as outlined by the manufacturers is to provide footwear to be mainly used for fitness, running, water sports, yoga, trekking and travelling, and other sports.
In a report on an article in Nature, co-author Daniel E. Lieberman stated that "People who wear conventional running shoes tend to run with a significantly different strike than those who run in minimalist shoes or barefoot. By landing on the middle or front of the foot, barefoot runners have almost no impact collision."
Lieberman et al.'s study was an experiment that involved 5 groups of runners from Kenya and the United States. The two American groups were adult athletes who had run with shoes since childhood, and those who habitually ran barefoot or with minimal footwear such as Vibram FiveFingers (mentioned by name in the study).
The three Kenyan groups were adults who had never run in shoes until late adolescence, as well as two teenage groups: Those that habitually wore shoes and those that always ran barefoot. The runners were instructed to run over a force plate that was embedded in a 25 meter track, and were recorded during the run using a three-dimensional infrared kinematic system. These measurements were used to assess the pattern with which the foot strikes the ground and how forcibly it does so.
Negative health effects
Negative health implications of running in Vibram FiveFingers or similar minimalistic footwear include the bodies' inability to adapt or transition well to the sudden lack of cushioning under and around the foot. Posture and balance deteriorate over the years as well, causing the likelihood of an older adult to get used to running in FiveFingers to decrease.Other dangers include risks associated with "too-much-too-soon" training. If not conditioned slowly enough, the sole of the foot or plantar fascia can become inflamed or damaged with activity.
Also due to over-training or incorrect form, runners may experience Achilles tendonitis or metatarsal inflammation and fractures. Over-striding in Vibram FiveFingers, that is, landing with the foot too far in front of one's hips, adds extra unnecessary stress to the calf muscles, Achilles tendon, and the arch of the foot, which can lead to serious health problems if not addressed.
Vibram FiveFingers:
Official website
Have Shoes Changed the Way We Run?
Vibram FiveFingers - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibram_FiveFingers
