Month: October 2015

Abebe Bikila – the Barefoot Marathoner

Posted on by Staff

Abebe Bikila won the 1960 Rome Olympic marathon running barefoot. He is often held up as a poster boy by the barefoot running community. He went on to win the 1964 Toyko Olympic marathon in world record time, this time wearing shoes.

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Abebe Bikila, the legendary Ethiopian marathon runner, etched his name into history when he won the 1960 Rome Olympic marathon running completely barefoot. Competing without shoes was not a symbolic choice at first—he had trained extensively barefoot and found it natural, but it also highlighted his extraordinary resilience and discipline. His victory was especially significant because he became the first Black African athlete to win Olympic gold, inspiring a new generation of African distance runners who would go on to dominate the sport.

What made Bikila’s triumph so remarkable was not only the barefoot feat itself but also the manner of his victory. He ran through the cobblestoned streets of Rome, finishing with a time of 2:15:16, a new world record at the time. His calm, upright stride and steady pace symbolized strength and endurance, and his success challenged Western assumptions about who could excel on the world stage in long-distance athletics. Bikila’s performance brought international attention to Ethiopia and put African runners at the forefront of distance running.

Four years later, at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Bikila proved his dominance again—this time wearing shoes—by winning gold once more, despite recovering from an appendectomy just weeks before. This back-to-back Olympic victory cemented his reputation as one of the greatest marathoners of all time. Tragically, a car accident in 1969 left him paralyzed from the waist down, but even then he showed immense courage, competing in disabled sporting events before his untimely death in 1973. Abebe Bikila’s legacy continues to inspire, not just for his barefoot marathon, but for his unbreakable spirit.

Most Useful Resources:
Abebe Bikila (Podiatry FAQ’s)
Abebe Bikila (Running Hero’s)
10 September 1960 (Today in History)
Abebe Bikila as a poster boy (Podiatry Ninja)

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The Abductory Twist During Gait

Posted on by Staff

An abductory twist is a reasonable common observation during a gait analysis and is caused by a number of different things. It is commonly associated with ‘overpronation‘. It is seen as a sudden abduction or whip of the heel medially (abduction) just as the heel comes off the ground. See this video for what it looks like:

The abductory twist is a subtle motion observed during the gait cycle, specifically in the propulsion phase of walking. It occurs when the heel lifts off the ground, and just before the toes push off, the heel shows a slight medial rotation (inward turn). This twist is often not dramatic—typically visible as a quick, small flick at the heel—but it can be a key indicator of underlying biomechanical inefficiencies or pathology in foot mechanics. It reflects a delay or compensation in the foot’s ability to resupinate (return to a supinated or rigid state) in preparation for toe-off.

From a biomechanical perspective, the abductory twist is closely tied to the function of the subtalar joint and midfoot stability. In a typical gait, the foot pronates (flattens) after heel strike to absorb shock, then transitions into supination as the body moves forward to create a rigid lever for propulsion. When this resupination is delayed or incomplete—due to issues like overpronation, forefoot varus, or tight calf muscles—the rearfoot compensates with a twisting motion to allow toe-off. This can cause excess stress on the plantar fascia, medial knee structures, or even contribute to hip and lower back pain if not addressed.

Clinically, the abductory twist is often associated with conditions like posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, flatfoot deformity, or excessive pronation syndromes. Identifying this motion during gait analysis helps clinicians determine the need for orthotic intervention, strengthening of intrinsic foot muscles, or stretching regimens. In children, a persistent abductory twist may suggest developmental alignment issues. Ultimately, while it might seem like a minor detail, the abductory twist provides valuable insights into kinetic chain dysfunction and should not be overlooked in comprehensive gait assessment.

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Most Useful Resources:
Biomechanics of abductory twist (Foot Health Forum)
The abductory twist (Podiatry Update)
The doc said I have an abductory twist… ? (Podiatry Experts)
My advice if you have an abductory twist (Running Injury Advice)
The Medial Heel Whip (Physio Ninja)
An Abductory Twist (Dr the Foot Without the Dr)
Abductory Twist: Throw the kitchen sink at it (Kitchen Sink)
Understanding the Abductory Twist (AgonyDeFeet)



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The ‘Shill’ Gambit

Posted on by Staff

The ‘Shill’ Gambit come in an argument or disagreement when one side accuses the other of being a paid shill for the cause. For example, accusing them of secretly working for a running shoe company and promoting their product or a pharmaceutical company. It generally is used when the person doing the accusing is loosing an argument or arguing from a weak position.

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The “Shill Gambit” is a rhetorical fallacy often seen in debates, especially online. It happens when someone dismisses an opponent’s argument by claiming they are secretly motivated by hidden interests — usually financial ones — rather than addressing the argument itself. For example, if someone defends a pharmaceutical product, an opponent might say, “You’re just a shill for Big Pharma,” without providing evidence. This tactic doesn’t engage with the reasoning or evidence presented; instead, it undermines credibility through accusation.

At its core, the gambit is an ad hominem attack — it targets the person, not the argument. By suggesting the speaker is paid off, biased, or part of a hidden agenda, the shill gambit tries to delegitimize discussion without actually proving anything. This can be persuasive in heated discussions, because it plays on distrust of corporations, governments, or institutions. However, it is logically weak: even if a speaker did have financial backing, their points would still need to be judged on evidence and logic.

The danger of the shill gambit is that it shuts down meaningful dialogue. Once someone is branded a “shill,” their contributions are ignored, regardless of merit. It also fosters echo chambers, since accusations of shilling discourage dissenting opinions. While conflicts of interest should always be taken seriously — and transparency matters — simply assuming bad faith without proof is a shortcut to intellectual dishonesty. A healthier approach is to evaluate both the argument itself and any documented conflicts of interest, rather than defaulting to the gambit.

Most Useful Resources:
Shill Gambit (PodiaPaedia)
“All anti-barefoot running research is paid for by the running shoe companies” (Running Research Junkie)

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