Review of Barefoot Running: Is barefoot running only possible for a minority of runners?

I read a top podiatrist online stating that he finds barefoot running interesting but couldn’t do it himself as it “would rip his knee cap off”. Slightly melodramatic perhaps but he is The Professional so we cannot really doubt him. In any case it is quite clear that the biomechanics of barefoot running completely different than “normal” running, so is this “ability” of barefoot running really only reserved for a small minority? I mean I haven’t ripped my knee cap off yet and I am an average sort of guy...not an athlete that’s for sure.

The common foot cycle is depicted below.

It a simple cycle of heel strike, foot balance, and then toe off. Of course this works find in shoes but when you go barefoot the diagrams would look something like this:

This is especially so when running; the lateral foot takes more pressure on contact with a sort of momentary supination with a rotation of the foot from lateral to medial pronation, as part of the midfoot strike. Finally there is no “toe off” as such but “foot lift”. Hence the forces involved are completely different.

Having been minimalist running “almost barefoot” in the Vibrams since January 2015 I have noticed some interesting things. (a) I have not experienced shin splints; (b) I have not had any major injuries or major aches and pains, (c) the muscle which is particularly sore at the moment is the Peroneus Brevis, (D) I have red marks (protuberances) after a run on the front of my ankle, and (e) particular tightness in the calf muscles / Achilles tendon.

Above: Muscles which take a pummeling in barefoot running! The Achilles tendon can also gets tight after a run. 

Above: red protuberance after a run on the skin around this tendon, and the one medially running along side of the big toe. Makes me think that tendon and muscles are utilized more for foot stabilization in barefoot running than is used  in conventional running in trainers.

So it would appear (superficially) that the muscles involved in barefoot running are the ones involved in stabilizing the leg on the foot and those involved in the process of supination to pronation (includes the Peroneus Longus and Brevis); and those that act as the shock absorbers (muscles of the calf). Strengthening a specific set of muscles in thus key to barefoot running and hence barefoot running is a skill like any other. It needs practise, perseverance, rest and reflection.

And study. You have to study what your body is telling you.

What I can conclude is that that barefoot running is common in the majority of children but is very uncommon in adults. Our often sedentary lifestyles does not assist this, nor our habituation of wearing shoes. Hence I suppose it is only possible for the minority of runners.

However I don’t think barefoot running is intrinsically any more dangerous than running in trainers. I think you can feel barefoot running more in your muscles so you can take rest before it becomes a stress injury, whereas in trainers you can run on an injury without realizing how bad it is...and realize you have an injury only when it is too late - necessitating a prolonged absence from your running routine.