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your muscles get larger Mens 2011 Vibram Classic
<p>The study was conducted by a group of researchers from Utah who set out to investigate how transitioning into Vibram Fivefingers (VFF) from more traditional shoes might affect the anatomy of the legs and feet. They split a group of 36 experienced runners into two groups C 17 continued running in their typical shoes for the next 10 weeks, and 19 made a variably gradual transition to running in Vibram Fivefingers over the same 10 week period (following transition advice that was published on the Vibram website in 2011 - this advice has since changed). The researchers took MRIs of the legs and feet of all runners both before and after the ten week period with the goal of assessing whether there might be any signs of increased injury to the tendons or bones of the VFF group relative to the non-VFF group.</p> <p>The results showed no difference in soft tissue response C the the tendons of the Vibram runners were similar to those of individuals who did not make the minimalist transition after the ten week period (they looked at the Achilles tendon <a href="http://www.vibramfivefingersneakers.com/index.php?main_page=site_map"><strong>Vibram Five Fingers Sneakers</strong></a>, dorsi-flexor, plantar-flexor, peroneal tendons, and plantar fascia). Good news for those who might be worried about injuring the plantar fascia or Achilles tendon during a transition to more minimal footwear <a href="http://www.vibramfivefingersneakers.com/"><strong>Cheap Five Fingers Shoes</strong></a>, especially since other anecdotal reports have suggested that those tissues might be at risk (Its worth noting that it is possible that longer term usage could still lead to soft tissue problems).</p> <p>Bone was a different story. The researchers were looking for signs of bone marrow edema (fluid accumulation) on the MRI images, and scored various bones of the foot using a standard rating protocol (0-4, with 4 being a full-blown stress fracture). Below are the results for bone as reported in the paper:</p> <p> These results show a higher incidence of intense signal sub-fracture bone marrow edema as designated by an MES of 3 (stress injury) in the Vibram group (3 out of 16 subjects in the Vibram group compared to 0 out of 20 subjects in the control group)...Increased signal intensity in the feet of the Vibram group to an MES of 2 was found in 8 of the 16 participants. Including the two subjects who suffered from stress fractures, 11 of the 16 subjects in the Vibram group were classified as injured (at least one structure with an MES greater than or equal to 2 ) at the end of the study.</p> <p>So approximately 2/3 of the runners in the Vibram group experienced an amount of bone edema (level 2 or higher) that would classify them as suffering from a stress reaction or stress injury in at least one of the bones measured (Note: there is a discrepancy in the number of subjects listed in the control and experimental groups reported in the Abstract/Methods/Discussion vs. the Results. The former sections list 17 control/19 Vibram subjects, the latter lists 20 control/16 Vibram subjects. Not sure why.) Two of these individuals developed stress fractures C one in the calcaneus, the other in the 2nd metatarsal. All makes sense, but heres where things get more complicated.<br> Tissue Adaptation</p> <p>Suppose you dont lift weights <a href="http://www.vibramfivefingersneakers.com/"><strong>Vibram Five Fingers Free Shipping</strong></a>. Tomorrow you go to the gym and do a bunch of curls, some sets on the bench press, a few rounds of leg press, etc. What would happen to your muscles? Chances are theyd be really sore the next day. Theyd likely be swollen (which is why you might think youve buffed up a bit on one day of lifting!). You probably have done some actual microdamage to the muscle tissue. But, is that an injury? Or, is the process of repairing this damage what will make the muscles stronger? C i.e., the damage done by lifting triggers a repair response that ultimately makes you stronger.</p> <p>If youre smart youd let your muscles rest and recover from the initial stress, go lift again several days later, and in a slow progression of lifting over the following weeks and months your muscles get larger, and you get stronger (and you dont get hurt). If youre not smart and you lift again the next day, and the day after that (maybe Spring Break is coming) you might do some real damage. The reality is the training muscles is very much about stressing them a bit so that they repair and come back bigger and stronger. But you have to be smart about it.</p> Comments
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