changing one's style of running shoe or switching to barefoot running will most likely alter the foot strike pattern, meaning that the force of impact will be absorbed differently. injuries are more likely to occur in novice barefoot runners. this may be a result of not yet having fully adapted to a new style of running, and therefore running with inconsistent technique. to measure this, a study was conducted involving runners who habitually run with a rearfoot strike while wearing shoes. of the runners involved in the study, 32% used a heel strike pattern in initial attempts at running barefoot. running barefoot while heel striking leads to increased muscle activation and impact accelerations. the findings suggest that an inconsistency in running technique among novice barefoot runners may put them at a higher risk of injury in comparison to running with shoes. minimalist footwear as an intermediate option between traditional running shoes and running barefoot, "minimalist" shoes lack thickly cushioned heels and are designed to encourage forefoot striking. compared to traditional running shoes, one study observed that high-speed runners in minimalist shoes experienced a significant redistribution of mechanical work from the knee to the ankle. therefore, minimalist shoes may be beneficial for runners who have experienced a knee injury in the past, although the shoes might increase the risk of ankle and calf injuries. as with barefoot running, runners who switch to minimalist shoes should not start out at full training intensity.