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Healthy People = Barefoot People
Humans should be able to function barefoot from birth until death (barring some birth defect, infection, or trauma, of course), though sadly, many people are unable to run, walk, or even stand for even a few minutes barefoot without discomfort, pain, or general uneasiness. Many people have essentially lost their ability to support themselves without
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The Sock Doc Training Principles: Become a Strong, Fast, Efficient, Injury-Free Athlete
This is the Sock Doc’s mega-post on training principles. It’s divided into five parts, all relating to each other at various levels. I hope you enjoy them and learn a thing or two. Please post any comments or questions here on this post, or on the individual articles. Sock Doc Training Part I: Aerobic Activity
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Do Not Stretch! 10 Reasons Not to Stretch
Here are some fun reasons not to stretch, some more serious than others. If you’re overly sensitive about stretching (noted in #2), you can catch up on the Sock Doc “Stop Stretching!“—or continue to stretch.
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Endurance-Oriented MovNat Training
Hunter-gatherers were constantly active, alternating hard physical days with less demanding days as often as they could. Their routines were balanced, promoting strength, agility, and aerobic and anaerobic endurance, thereby ensuring that their health remained intact. For the most part, their activity kept them strong and injury-free. It’s most likely that the majority of hunter-gatherers
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Sock Doc’s MovNat Guest Post
I spent a week living beside Erwan Le Corre, Vic Verdier, Clifton Harski, and 11 other MovNat attendees, training quite differently than I have for, well, anything. For the past 20 years, I’ve been immersed in the triathlon and endurance arena, having competed in 20 Ironman races, including six Ironman Hawaii World Championships. Countless other
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Your Running Shoes Are Only Part of the Injury-Free Prescription
Since Sock Doc began, one of the most common questions I have been asked is, “Sock Doc, I’m running in minimalist shoes (or barefoot), but I’m still injured—why?” This question tells me one thing: Runners think that if you get out of your oversupportive, cushioned running shoes and orthotics, injuries magically disappear. Unfortunately, this is
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Stop Stretching!
Stretching is perhaps one of the most controversial fitness subjects today. Passionate debates arise between those who perceive the benefits of stretching and those, like me, who think stretching is one of the worst activities you can partake in, especially if you’re already injured. It’s a tradition that’s hard to break because so many of
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This Is Zero-Drop: A Shoeless (and Sockless) Sock Doc
Sock Doc readers know that I advise every patient to go barefoot as much as possible since the feet are loaded with nerve endings that sense contact with the ground. Those nerve endings communicate with the brain and affect one’s entire nervous system. Your nervous system runs your entire body; therefore, going barefoot can not
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Sock Doc Training Regimen
I often get asked, “How does the Sock Doc train?” What heart rate, what duration, what intensity, etc. . . . There’s so many different coaching ideas, perspectives, and theories out there that it’s sometimes hard to sort through. Well, here’s the general run-down.
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Sock Doc Paleo-Plyometric Workout
Strength training, whether performing traditional weight-lifting exercises like a deadlift, plyometric exercises like box jumps, or simply body-weight exercises like pull-ups and abdominal crunches, all have their place in most exercise regimes. Ultimately, the decision to do any strength training or not should be based on your health, your fitness level, and what you’re trying
Natural Athletic Training & Fitness
These articles offer natural athletic training and fitness information and injury-free training techniques and tips. Aerobic and anaerobic athletic training philosophies are discussed as well as unconventional topics such as minimalist (barefoot) running and the dangers of stretching. Achieving a level of desired athletic fitness involves more than just working out. Training needs to be much more specific for optimum athletic fitness whether you’re trying to swim faster, run further, or lift heavier. Athletic training isn’t only dependent on the amount or type of exercise but a lifestyle adaptation where your overall health plays an important role, especially the need to rest and recover properly.