In recent years, there has been a lot of talk about barefoot footwear, also known as minimalist footwear, which has made it seem like a passing fad.
Due to so many years of wearing conventional footwear, it is believed that its use does not bring benefits to our health and of course, it sounds crazy to use such thin and flexible soles, which seem to leave our feet defenseless against the danger of the ground, it is simply crazy.
In reality, what we could consider a fashion, and not exactly a passing one, is the use of so-called conventional footwear and even the use of footwear itself, because if we go back to past civilizations we will see that they went completely barefoot and this never prevented them from moving freely.
With the development of civilization, the need to protect our feet from the environment arose and that is how footwear was born.
The problem is that with fashion and the evolution of shoes, our feet have been forced into an unnatural shape to adapt to the shoe and not the other way around, resulting in deformities (bunions, calluses, claw toes), imbalance in our body, joint and muscle pain, etc.
In this evolution of fashion, we have forgotten the wonderful feeling of walking barefoot.
We have become so accustomed to pain that it is easier for us to take a pill as a quick fix than to look for the root cause. But if you are here reading it is because you are looking to solve what is causing your pain.
How is barefoot footwear different from conventional footwear?
Conventional shoes are characterized by being narrow at the toe and heel, having a heel (drop) or elevation in the arch, thick soles and being rigid.
Minimalist footwear, on the other hand, has very different characteristics that make the foot feel light and free to move:
- Completely flat soles (zero drop), with no interior elements that raise the heel or the arch of the foot.
- Thin soles that allow the foot to come into greater contact with the ground and encourage muscle exercise
- Wide toe boxes with room for your toes to move and expand as much as they need with each step.
- Flexible materials that allow the shoe to fit the foot as if it were a glove, accompanying the shoe in every movement of the foot.
- Shoes shaped to fit your foot to respect your natural posture, our feet are not narrow.
- Without reinforcements or buttresses in the heel, ankle and toe areas.
An extra feature that some usually have is that they are made with natural materials, free of toxins, dyes or plastics.
The use of these materials, in addition to contributing to the environment, also helps to have more flexible materials that are more respectful of our feet.
What are the benefits of barefoot shoes?
Now that you know a little more about minimalist footwear, you may be wondering what its benefits are and why you should start using it if you haven't already.
The benefits that barefoot shoes can give you are not limited to your feet. You will notice that your entire body changes and that some pains that you had assumed were normal will now begin to improve and even disappear.
However, it is important to note that a proper transition must be made and that if you have any specific pathology, you should do it with the help of a specialist.
As more studies are carried out and the use of this footwear becomes more widespread, we are learning more about the positive changes that it brings us. Here are some of the most notable ones, which are of course supported by scientific studies:
- The feet are the connection of our entire body, they are what support us, therefore their muscles must be strong and we only achieve this strength by keeping our feet close to the ground and generating impacts that make the muscles work to strengthen them.
- Its use is associated with improving balance, because you receive direct information about the position and movement according to the ground you are stepping on.
- They can also reduce the risk of knee and ankle injuries when running.
- Considerably improves injuries or deformities caused by the use of conventional footwear such as: bunions, lower back pain, knee pain.
- It improves the posture of the entire body, since the flat, unelastic sole gradually returns our body to its natural shape.
We must always remember that these benefits go hand in hand with a correct transition; suddenly switching from conventional to minimalist footwear is not the most advisable.
The change must be gradual and of course accompanied by exercises and a lot of movement. Remember that our muscles and tendons are not used to working, and may even be shorter than normal due to the use of heels (or drop).
IMPORTANT: This is an informative article at a general level. To consider the change and its benefits according to each person's individual pathology, it is always advisable to go to a specialist who can guide you through the process.