Walking barefoot or in barefoot shoes restores muscle strength in our feet and legs. What are the benefits of barefoot, minimalist shoes?Īs I learned from my experience transitioning to minimal footwear, the benefits go far beyond more comfortable toes:īarefoot shoes improve leg and foot strength. For the first time since my years of playing barefoot as a kid, I was trusting my feet. For the first few months, my calves were sore, and I had to stretch a lot, but after time, my feet adapted and became stronger and more responsive. The latter is compensated by high arch support in a lot of shoes, which makes the problem even worse.Īfter learning more about minimalist barefoot shoes, or zero-drop barefoot shoes, I decided to give them a try. When tight shoes squeeze and pinch our feet, it can cause many issues such as bunions, hammertoes and, over time, flattened arches. When I checked my closet, the shoes and boots all had a heel, excess cushioning, arch support, and many other gimmicks that were not foot friendly. Squeezed toes and elevated heels unnaturally angle and smother the foot with each step, transferring discomfort throughout the knees, shoulders, neck, and back. Through research, I learned about the effects unhappy feet "stuck" inside over-built shoes can have over the rest of the body.
My mind soon changed when I began experiencing serious back pain and wanted to know what was causing it. I was convinced I needed a pair of conventional running shoes to run, another pair of traditional hiking shoes to hike, another pair of modern gym shoes to train, and the list went on and on.
With so many shoe options on the market, it seems we need, or think we need, a specific outfit for every activity we do, including what we wear on our feet.
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