The footwear industry is dominated by cushioned soles and rigid structures, so the concept of barefoot footwear might seem strange. However, there is a growing body of evidence showing that embracing barefoot living can significantly improve your health and wellbeing. This blog explores how wearing barefoot shoes in your everyday life can benefit your foot health, overall natural health, and general wellbeing.

HOW NORMAL SHOES HARM YOUR FEET

People often forget that feet are incredibly complex structures, highly evolved for mobility and stability. At Vivobarefoot, we always say that the foot is the best technology to ever go into a shoe.

However, years of wearing restrictive footwear limits your feet. Padding weakens your muscles and reduces flexibility, and narrow toe boxes squish your feet. These design features contribute to a host of foot-related issues such as plantar fasciitis, bunions, and hammertoes.

ARE BAREFOOT SHOES GOOD FOR YOUR FEET?

The short answer is yes.

Barefoot shoes, also known as minimalist footwear, are designed to mimic the natural shape and movement of your feet. They are wide for natural stability, thin for natural feeling, and flexible for natural mobility.

Barefoot footwear promotes proper foot mechanics and a more natural gait, and gives your feet space to grow and flex. This can help avoid and alleviate foot problems caused by traditional shoes.

THE BENEFITS OF WEARING BAREFOOT FOOTWEAR

So, how can wearing barefoot shoes in your everyday life improve your health?

1. Stronger feet. By allowing your feet to move and function naturally, with less help from padding, barefoot shoes activate more muscles in your feet and ankles. This strengthens your muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

2. Better balance. Barefoot footwear is wide, to let your toes spread naturally, and thin, to let you feel the ground beneath you. Alongside stronger feet, this improves your balance and stability.

3. More skilful movement. Increased sensory feedback can help improve your proprioception, or spatial awareness. This lets you move more skilfully while exercising, adventuring, or living day to day.

4. Improved posture. Wearing barefoot shoes encourages a more natural walking and standing posture. Better biomechanics can alleviate strain on your joints and muscles in your lower body.

5. Fewer injuries and health problems. All of the benefits above reduce the risk of injuries through trips, risky technique, or weakened feet. Combined with wide footwear that doesn't crush your feet, they also reduce the risk of foot conditions associated with traditional footwear.

It's important to say that barefoot footwear won't immediately cure your foot problems, and does come with challenges. When transitioning to barefoot, start slowly and gradually build up. Listen to your body. And don't be alarmed if your feet take time to adjust to a new way of moving.