To Shoe or Not to Shoe?

A few years ago there was a trend called "Barefoot Running." Ever since, I get asked about shoes a lot. Below you will find my thoughts on shoes, when to wear them and when not to wear them. This is all based on the health of your feet!

Your Feet

Your feet are dynamic. They need to move, and move regularly. Your feet are your contact to the world. They are on the ground (most of the time). They are involved in almost everything that you do, even sitting!

There are 26 bones in each foot. That means that you have 52 bones in your feet (The hand has one more). Half of your bones are in your hands and feet! Your foot also has 30 joints in each one! There is a lot of stuff going on in your foot.

This is by design. Your feet help you walk, stand, run, squat, balance, and do most things. They help you reach higher, move side to side, turn around and pretty much anything else. They won't help you do a pull up.

These body parts are important, and we should treat them well.

Shoes

What do shoes do for your feet? The major purpose of a shoe is to protect the feet. And a good amount of shoes do that.

A lot of shoes don't!

If you are in town, at work, or at play, your shoes can protect your feet from sharp objects on the ground, keep them from getting too tired, protect them from impact and keep them dry.

Shoes should serve a purpose!

Some shoes only have the purpose of looking good. That is okay for small amounts of time. But you don't want to spend all day with your feet crammed into a shoe that's moving all of the bones and joints into different positions.

The worst example of this is pointed shoes (with or without heels). Your toes get all squished together.

Wearing heels for extended periods of time can actually shorten some of the muscles and tendons of the lower leg and foot.

For the health of your feet, find a pair of shoes to wear that your toes can move and don't feel cramped!

Going Without Shoes

There are times when you should definitely go without wearing shoes!

For almost everyone, this is when you are in your own home or sitting at a desk. It is good for your feet to let them breath and move.

By walking around your house barefoot, you will strengthen your feet and have a decreased chance of foot problems! Walking barefoot on the beach (sand) is especially helpful for strong feet.

If you are new to walking around barefoot build to it with small increments of about 10 minutes. Don't go all day if you have been wearing shoes and/or slippers constantly for years!

For the health of your feet, get out there, and spend some time barefoot!