Your feet are beautifully designed, they allow for smooth and efficient movement and they are complex structures. However when we start to put our feet in shoes, we start to lose some of this efficiency and some of this function. In this blog, I’m going to share the top five benefits of walking barefoot compared to walking in shoes.
I firmly believe that the more natural we go, the healthier it tends to be. This principle applies in nearly every scenario, including our footwear choices. Over the past few decades, the idea of walking barefoot has gained popularity. Some shoe companies even produce minimalist shoes to simulate the barefoot experience. However, nothing truly matches walking completely barefoot. Let’s start by addressing the issues with conventional shoes and why walking without them can offer unique benefits.
What's Wrong With Normal Shoes?
Conventional shoes often constrict our feet, preventing our toes from spreading out naturally. This can lead to problems like bunions and curled toes. Additionally, shoes can deactivate the smaller muscles in our feet, much like wearing a posture corrector or a core support belt. It turns off core muscles during certain exercises. The more we rely on shoes with arch supports and other features, the weaker these foot muscles become over time.
Benefits of Normal Shoes
To be clear, traditional shoes offer many benefits, primarily protecting the soles of our feet. While going completely barefoot all the time may not be practical, incorporating some barefoot walking can help us enjoy the advantages I’ll explain next.
1. Strengthen Small Muscles in Your Feet
Walking barefoot, even occasionally, is like a gym session for your feet. It stimulates and awakens the small muscles in your feet, making them stronger. These muscles form the foundation of your entire body. A stronger foundation leads to better overall stability and balance.
2. Allows Toes to Spread
Walking without shoes allows your toes to spread naturally. This improved base of support enhances your foot’s functionality.
3. Allows for More Foot Motion
Our feet are complex structures with numerous joints. By walking barefoot, you promote more fluidity and increased range of motion in these joints, helping to keep them healthy and functional.
4. Increases Sensation in Feet
Walking barefoot enhances the sensation and feedback from the ground to your feet. This sensory stimulation sends accurate information to the brain about your feet’s position and movement. It can also contribute to a lower risk of ankle sprains.
5. Grounds You
Walking barefoot, especially on natural surfaces like grass, mud, or sand, naturally grounds you. Grounding reduces the buildup of positive charges in your body, which is associated with various health issues. It’s a relatively recent concept, but it can provide significant health benefits.
Can We Mimic These Benefits With Shoes?
Yes, it’s possible to achieve some of these benefits while wearing shoes. Although it’s not the same, there are many shoes that have recently come onto the market that mimic the barefoot experience as much as possible, while maintaining the major benefit of shoes, protecting the soles of your feet. Here is a link to a pair of shoes I recently purchased this year that I can highly recommend:
Conclusion
Walking barefoot presents numerous advantages, strengthening foot muscles, promoting toe flexibility, and enhancing sensory feedback. It’s a more natural and healthier approach to movement. I encourage you to embrace opportunities to walk barefoot when possible, whether it’s around your home, in the garden, or on the beach. It’s a delightful experience that contributes to your overall well-being.