8/6/08

Nike Shox

Yeah, I guess they look cool. And when they first came out they even sounded cool, making that "Boing" noise. Or were mine the only ones that did that? But besides their look there is really nothing cool about these sneaks. First, they're over priced. Second, every pair I've ever had (and it's been a couple of years) has broken down so fast. Put my first two points together and that doesn't make any sense. A high priced sneaker that breaks down pretty fast. Makes you want to go out and get a pair, right?

But the real issue with these sneakers isn't the price or how much wear and tear you get out of them. The issue with these sneakers is the biomechanical problems they can cause. Take a look at a pair. It's basically a sneaker with heels, right? Would you ever workout in a pair of heels? I'm actually afraid to ask the question because I'm sure some ladies would say yes. Anyways, you always hear how heels are terrible for your feet and how they can cause problems up your entire kinetic chain. Not only foot problems from shortened calves and Achilles tendons, but also knee, hip and low back problems. Plus having your heels raised causes a forward weight shift and more problems for your lower back. And then think about how we evolved. Mr. Neanderthal Man wasn't chasing down buffalo in a pair of Nike Turbo Shox. He was in bare feet. Watch the track and field events at upcoming summer Olympics. From the sprinters all the way up to the distance runners, they're basically wearing slippers on their feet. Their heels aren't elevated.
They're practically running in bare feet. And some therapists today would even suggest training barefoot to solve some of your joint mobility and stability issues.

So my suggestion to you is not to get sucked in by Nike's fantastic marketing campaigns that have you running out to get the latest pair of Shox. Especially if you're struggling with some foot or low back issues. I was one of those people a couple of years ago. But after realizing how lousy these sneakers can actually before you, I'll never wear another pair.

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