Do you know how many of the world’s population walk around daily without any shoes at all? If you live in the United States, the answer is that 65 percent of people in this country don’t wear any shoes. It would be a considerable number. What if we told you that something new would ease your pain and support your body in a way that you have not been able to experience before. Yes, we are talking about barefoot shoes!
If you haven’t heard of barefoot shoes yet, or if you’ve walked around in dress shoes and sneakers your whole life and wondered what the big deal is, this article will teach you everything you need to know about their benefits.
While wearing barefoot shoes that provide less protection than standard shoes may seem like a strange decision, they are beneficial for one’s overall health and comfort. Do barefoot shoes offer any real benefits? What are the pros of this type of shoe, and is it a good idea to wear them in your everyday life? This article will explore some of the factors that come into play when considering whether or not barefoot shoes are worth it.
What Should You Know About Barefoot Shoes?
1. History of barefoot shoes.
Barefoot shoes have been around for centuries. There is some evidence suggesting humans have been wearing smooth leather soles as footwear since the Neolithic Revolution (before or around 10,000 B.C.). However, it was only in the late 1800s and early 1900s that it became popular to wear these shoes. At first, people wore them for sports and similar activities, but as our understanding of its benefits grew over time, so did the popularity of barefoot shoes among everyday people.
2. What exactly are barefoot shoes?
In the past couple of years, a new type of footwear called “barefoot shoes” or “minimalist shoes” has become popular in the running, fitness, and fashion communities. They have:
Foot-Shaped
This is the main feature of barefoot shoes that makes them so unique. There is no room for your toes to move around freely with most shoes, but with barefoot shoes, you can quickly move your feet about as if wearing socks or sandals.
Soft and thin sole
Since there is no heel in barefoot shoes, the shoe’s sole becomes much thinner and softer to provide the wearer with more comfort. This is necessary for you to feel the ground and experience it naturally and comfortably.
No arch support
With no arch support in barefoot shoes, your feet will have the opportunity to maintain a more critical function. Flat feet may cause several health issues, yet putting support beneath them prevents your muscles from working.
Benefits to Wear Barefoot Shoes
Muscle strength and good foot health
Barefoot runners have been shown to have a natural stride that’s better than that of traditional runners. When running barefoot or in minimal shoes or shoes that are more minimalist, the muscles in your feet are activated, and they can be hit with all kinds of forces, so you will want to provide them with the proper support they need to continue working. This means that you may feel more stable on your feet and have more control over them.
This is important because it allows you to become more confident in running, jumping, or other foot-based activities. When you feel confident on your feet, you are less likely to injure yourself due to the impact of exercise.
Barefoot shoes combat pain
In a place where there is a great deal of pressure on the toes, the legs, and the feet from walking or standing for a prolonged period, barefoot shoes can make people’s lives much more comfortable. Barefoot shoes may help you know how to stand or walk, landing upon the balls of your feet, not your heels. Walking might help you prevent knee injury.
If you have flat feet or other issues with your feet, often they become painful when you wear shoes that are not appropriate for your foot type. However, with barefoot shoes, you can relieve this pain because the lack of support allows your muscles to work correctly. In addition, some people find that they experience relief from problems like plantar fasciitis (heel spurs), shin splints, and bunions after switching to barefoot shoes or more minimalist styles.
Walk and run naturally
Many people who wear barefoot shoes report that they feel as though they just stepped out of bed and into a fun new pair of shoes: comfortable, attractive, and lightweight. Walking and running in barefoot shoes not only puts you in the best position to appreciate your natural movement, but it also makes for a more enjoyable experience.
For centuries, people have relied only on their feet to get them through life. Unfortunately, orthotics and rigid footwear are a current epidemic that primarily affects civilized countries and their inhabitants. Sitting for long periods and wearing constricting shoes as a child harms our capacity to move. Wearing shoes typically prevents people from using their feet the way they were meant to be used, so switching to barefoot shoes will allow for this natural foot movement.
Let your bones breathe
Each of the 26 bones in the human foot has a specific function. That accounts for one-quarter of the total body weight. So do your feet a favor and keep your natural locomotive operating at peak performance. Despite this, we continue to cram our feet into tight, unnatural-looking sneakers or bad for bones; changes morphology over time. Going barefoot puts your feet in the best position to let the bones breathe, and their structure is restored.
Take the stress and tension away
People who go barefoot often feel like they could never be “tired” again. For those who experience discomfort in the sole of their foot, barefoot shoes can be a great way to let your skin breathe and help remove pressure from areas that cause you pain. As a result, they experience less body tension and tension in their joints. If your muscles work better, you can expect your joints to work better too.
Going barefoot will help reduce the tension in some parts of your body while giving you some relief from other parts. As a result, tension and pressure may be relieved, and everyday living can be more enjoyable. In addition, going barefoot is a terrific method to reclaim long-lost vitality and maintain a positive attitude no matter where you are.
Rebooting the whole body
The foot has several acupressure sites that correspond to various body areas. These points may be used to revive various bodily organs. Imagine walking barefoot for the rest of your life, with the earth constantly caressing and stimulating your acupressure points. An estimated 100 acupressure points on your feet have special receptors that help regulate your body’s vital energy. A foot massage will not only feel fantastic, but it will also help you relax more efficiently and increase blood flow throughout the body.
Improved balance
Our brains do not get comprehensive information about the terrain by putting on standard footwear, which might lead us to slide, stumble, or even lose our footing on slippery surfaces.
Barefoot shoes allow your feet to function naturally, improving your balance and helping you feel more stable when you walk or run. In addition, by encouraging the feet to work appropriately, barefoot shoes can make you more aware of where you are stepping and how your body is moving concerning itself.
Our feet are responsible for maintaining our balance. Therefore, the ability to distribute weight more evenly across the foot can improve balance. In addition, when your toes are allowed to touch the ground, they can activate their muscles, thus creating a sense of proprioception. This means that you have better body awareness, which affects your overall coordination.
Suitable for Children
When it comes to children, barefoot shoes are recommended by physical therapists worldwide, as the foot needs support only during standing and walking. Children’s feet grow and develop in the early stages of their life. So why not give them a chance to walk and run barefoot? Barefoot shoes are not only good for you, but they are also safe and healthy for children. Children don’t need to wear shoes that will force them to walk like older people do when wearing clunky sneakers. Instead, they should wear shoes that will allow them to move naturally and strengthen their bodies.
Who Shouldn’t Wear Barefoot Shoes?
Barefoot shoes can be an excellent option for anyone who wants to relearn walking, running, and jumping again. But some people shouldn’t wear barefoot shoes because of their particular needs. The following groups should not wear barefoot shoes:
Injured or post-operative patients
Those who are still recovering from illness or surgery should also seek footwear that will protect their feet. If your feet are recovering from an injury or surgery, wearing barefoot shoes can put undue stress on them. While they may cause less pain than before, they could cause further damage to the injured area if you push them too hard or force them to move in unusual ways.
High work intensity
There’s even more reason why you shouldn’t wear barefoot shoes if your job requires intensive walking or running because you may end up injuring yourself again.
Who Is A Good Candidate For Barefoot Shoes?
The fact is that anyone can benefit from wearing barefoot shoes because they offer so many benefits not just to your feet but also to your whole body.
1. Rehabilitation
If you’ve had an injury in the past, you should learn how to walk again by wearing barefoot shoes because it’s essential for all parts of your body. When fit people usually walk, it replenishes the endorphin levels in their bodies, making them feel better and helping them grow more powerful muscles.
2. A healthy arch
If your feet have a healthy arch and you can run and jump without pain, then you may want to consider going barefoot. However, if your feet lack strength and flexibility, pick out fashionable shoes that come with arch support, so your feet don’t become overly arched.
3. Strong feet
If your feet are strong enough, you might not need to wear shoes with arch support. The most important thing is that they are flexible and bend them when you walk or run.
4. Leg and ankle muscles
If you have a strong leg and ankle muscle, an excellent reason for going barefoot is that it will help to strengthen your leg muscles.
5. No prior foot issues
If you have had a foot injury, you should avoid going barefoot because going barefoot can put more strain on your injured area.
And if you have a healthy foot and do not have any problems that will cause you pain, it would be very wise to consider going barefoot. Your muscles will become more powerful, and your body will be healthier. You can also run, jog or walk more easily.
FAQS
Is it possible to go barefoot every day?
If you have a healthy foot and have no issues with your feet, you should have no problem wearing them every day. Many people do it to improve their overall health.
However, if your feet are injured or need arch support, you should seek shoes that incorporate the support your feet need. This way, your foot will become firmer. Then, later on, when your foot becomes more robust and healthier again, you can wear barefoot shoes to improve their strength further.
Where can I buy barefoot shoes?
Many online stores sell barefoot shoes. However, if you’re interested in buying them, you should know that you don’t have to look far away to find them because they are becoming more popular these days. You can find them at your local stores, specialty running stores, or even at your local pharmacy.
How often should I wear barefoot shoes?
You should wear barefoot shoes whenever possible to help strengthen your body and function better over time. However, if you’re not accustomed to walking or running in this type of footwear, then you should start slowly by wearing it for short periods during the day until you become more comfortable with it.
How much are barefoot shoes?
As with any other type of shoes, they are sold at different prices. However, the good thing about them is that they are usually cheaper than other types of footwear. For example, you can find them at a 30% discount compared to the usual prices you’ll see in the market by shopping online.
How do barefoot shoes feel?
Barefoot shoes feel as though you’re wearing nothing at all on your feet. But they know different ways of helping you walk and run. If your feet are healthy and robust, it will be easier for you to run and jump because the shoes will support your muscles to move better and more effectively.