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Benefits of Going Barefoot
Blog | June 26, 2017
Going barefoot sounds like some eccentric new trend, but did you know that going barefoot is actually a scientifically-researched practice that has tons of incredible health advantages, such as increasing antioxidants, reducing inflammation, and improving sleep? I personally exercise barefooted as much as I possibly can. The only exercise I use shoes for is rope jumping.
Anatomically speaking, going barefoot is one the best thing you can do for your feet.
We wear shoes to protect our feet from cuts, injuries, bruises, etc. But in reality, wearing shoes has weakened our feet.
Bio-mechanist Katy Bowman, claims that our “modern, thick-soled shoes are contributing to a lot of problems including osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, knee-hip-back pain, and bunions. This is partially because most shoes block full motion of the foot joints and nerve feedback from the feet.”
Our feet are supposed to be able to handle walking, hiking, treading, running, and yes, even working out, completely barefoot, without an issue. Many indigenous people from all over the world know this very well. They live almost 100% of their lives completely barefoot! They wander the savannas and hike the rain forests without the protection or support of their Nikes or Adidas, and yet, they have strong, healthy feet. Far superior to our own, with very few, if any, foot problems at all.
Here are a few health benefits to inspire you to ditch the Reeboks and give barefoot living a try…
1. First and foremost, going barefoot strengthens the little stabilizing muscles in your feet and ankles and makes them stronger. Ultra-cushioned and thick-heeled shoes that give a lot of stability and support actually make your feet and ankles lazy. Almost 30% of the joints in your body are in your feet. Your feet are the base of support for the whole body. Improper foot mechanics often lead to knee and back pain. The artificial support you get from shoes can place unnatural pressure on the knees, spine, and neck and lead to chronic pain.
2. Have horrible balance and coordination? Go barefoot. Again, by strengthening the small stabilizing muscles of your feet, you actually improve your balance and overall sports performance. Also, according to a study published in Oxford Academic, by going barefoot, “the nerve endings in your feet have access to the sensory information provided by the environment which improves something called “foot position awareness,” a fancy way of saying “stability and balance. Thick shoes remove this proprioceptive awareness, reducing balance and stability and increasing the risk of injuries.
3. Reduces the risk of heart disease. High viscosity has been linked as a risk factor for heart disease, but by going barefoot outside through a practice called earthing, this can contribute to reducing this factor significantly. According to a study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, earthing (when you walk barefoot outside), increases the surface charge of red blood cells. This charge helps reduce the amount of clumping in the cells, which results in a decrease in blood thickness.
4. Prevent problems later on in life. How many of us know older people who have hip problems? Probably all of us. If the stability and mobility of your feet start to deteriorate (which happens when you wear shoes all the time), this will affect and change the ankle, knee and hip positions and make them all more prone to injuries. Prevention is key here to avoid having issues later on in life. Going barefoot now as often as possible will help aid you from being another older person that needs a hip replacement.
Now, if you’ve been inspired to go barefoot to strengthen your feet and by connection, your whole body, then that is great! But start slow. Your feet have gotten used to shoes and support their whole lives. Going barefoot completely and adding in high impact and high-intensity workouts and movements can lead to injury. Just like any muscle, you have to work your way up.
Start by being barefoot inside your home, and work your way up to being barefoot as much as possible. Take your dog out barefoot. Getting the mail? Do it shoeless. Living room workout? Do it without shoes on.
Go slowly but overtime, you will learn how to use your feet again. Going slowly will help strengthen them and prevent injuries.
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Private Member |
dallas, tx, usa
I’m a massage therapist and work barefoot, which I enjoy immensely. I just recently joined ZGym and started working out without tennis shoes. After years of abusing my feet with high heels and tennis shoes, it’s about time to strengthen my feet. Thank you for such informative article. Next step, earthing…i’ll walk around the yard barefoot.
Private Member |
wilmington, delaware, united states
I recently went for a hike with my dog barefoot. It took some getting used to!
Private Member |
dallas, tx, usa
that is so cool!! I’ve done the yard only and you are right, it takes some time getting used to.
Private Member |
What do you think of zero drop shoes and barefoot shoes like vibrams? I’ve switched to flip-flops without any slope (some arch support) and they feel amazing. My feet have more freedom to move. My feet feel much better, but thats also due to doing more yoga and jiu-jitsu. I’m hooked on exercise without shoes on.
Private Member |
melbourne, victoria, australia
Hi Zuzka, would you please make a coffee talk series about flexibility vs mobility, those two are confusing and I feel that they are not the same. Is there any way to improve it? I feel like I am not able to do some of your exercises due to incorrect or insufficient stretching.
Thanks!
Private Member |
wilmington, delaware, united states
I have been LOVING my workouts barefoot! I am genetically pre-disposed to bunions, and it has been dramatically helping to re-shape my foot. Does anyone recommend any barefoot-style shoe to wear to and from the gym? Right now I have wearing my normal, laced gym shoes. It is a pain taking off the socks and untying the laces. I’d like to just slip them off – especially after my jump rope circuits. All suggestions are welcome!
Private Member |
phoenix, az, usa
I love this article – thank you for sharing this! More people need to be aware of the benefits of going barefoot. My husband and I go barefoot whenever possible!!! I have sprained, fractured or torn ligaments in both ankles many times over the years of athletics. My ankles took a beating and then I got into an awful habit of wearing high heels for about 12 years or so. I no longer wear heels and since practicing going barefoot, I have had huge improvements in my flexibility and the level of pain I experience (I have a lot of damage from hears of sports). I never would have thought that simply taking my shoes off would help improve my quality of life in such a huge way. My husband is a CrossFit coach and is constantly encouraging our members to take their shoes off. So many have seen the benefits and automatically take their shoes off now for workouts!!! Keep it up girl!
Private Member |
My lover just said to me: ”Zuzka is your friend of heart”
He’s prohably right because we do not know each other, but you talk to me everyday trough your videos, i listen to you everyday, and we train together everyday.. I read some of your articles as this one that i really like because i’m interested for a while, and i’m glad you are too! As you said in your coffee talk: i’m not alone and it reassure me!
Hi Zuzana, my name is Lucie, i’m french, and i always loved sport, especially swimming and martial arts. My id is ”LucieLumière”, and ”lumière” means ”light” in english, but it’s not related at ”ZuzkaLight”! ”Firefly” means ”luciole” in french: indeed ”lux” is Lucie’s latin etymology which means light. In Scandinavia we celebrate the Lights on St.Lucie’s day, related to winter solstice. However i don’t think it’s a hasard.. 🙂 Zuzka i congratulate you for the life you’re driving and your way to do it! You seem to be a very cool and very gentle woman, and everything you said breath the positive, the motivation, the well-being and self-respect. You travel, you Fully live your life with your love. You suffured but you stay yourself and continued to follow your dreams (i guess). You are a beautiful exemple of what is the humanity. Bravo !
As far as i’m concerned, your programs give me the motivation to continue, and your achievement inspire mine, and if that were to happen i’d be happy to meet you. I wish you the life that you dream of.
Lucie Lumière.
PS: i did my best to traduct it by myself, and i always have naked foot in summer or when it’s hot enough, and i almost do my workouts with my foot naked 🙂
Private Member |
lake tahoe, nv, usa
Thank you Lucie, that’s beautiful. I’m happy to be your friend of heart 🙂