Dooley Noted: 5/10/2016
I don’t love endorsing products.
To each his own.
But this shoe is one of the best I have ever worn for people transitioning to minimal footwear.
The Merrell Vapor Glove 2 is a wonderful shoe for those looking to earn more healthy transitioning from pronation to supination.
It has the sole of Vibram without the excessive great toe abduction of the Five Fingers.
It has a super flexible sole from front to back, unlike many training shoes.
This flexibility promotes subtalar joint movement, resulting in less tendencies towards ankle mobility issues.
This shoe must be transitioned into slowly, if one is moving from a basic cross training shoe with thick soles, excessive rear padding, limited sole flexibility, or orthopedic foot conditions.
Try using the shoe for limited timing until your foot accommodates.
If you have been in traditional footwear or orthotics, the intrinsic foot muscles may be underdeveloped.
This may lead to foot discomfort if you don’t complete a slower transition.
After a few months, you will be able to balance much better in flatter footwear. You will also notice less foot discomfort and more recruitment from muscle groups that have been on the lazier side.
The 28 bones of your foot want to permit you to move dynamically.
Stick yourself in a stiff-soled, overly supportive shoe, and your foot will remain stiff.
If your foot remains stiff, the knee, hips, and low back have difficulty receiving cues from the foot receptors that aren’t moving.
Consider this amazing shoe as a helpful rehab tool.
Discuss it with your movement specialist to see if it suits you.
As always, it’s your call.
-Dr. Kathy Dooley