The Beauty of Barefoot

A blind belief in trainers

There are lots of things that I never questioned growing up. Among these things were the practicality of trainers for running. We wear shoes to protect our feet from the ground, keep them warm and dry and supported. Granted, there is an important health and safety aspect to this... no-one wants to step on glass or dog doo whilst going for a run. But I bet they don't fancy long term complex joint pain either. Any runners in the house? There is growing concern from certain Doctors, podiatrists, physiologists and psychologists about our over reliance on the training shoe, and how this could be having a negative impact on health.

Media marketing and social norms will lead us to believe that cushioning the sole will support the body. On the contrary, I propose that if we - from the outset - went about our daily activities with as little foot support as possible, we would be much less susceptible to the incidence of injury. Ankle sprains, muscular strains, knee problems, hip pain, and lower back pain, are all very common sporting injuries, particularly among runners.

Evolution didn't have shoes in mind

Cushioned trainers literally trick the brain into thinking that one is landing into soft comfort. There is a tendency for the trainer-clad runner to land flat into the heel and there is a subsequent shock wave that reverberates through the body. Our weakest points are our joints, and these are the spots which are susceptible to injury. Injuries are most often the result of micro-traumas, the effects of which will accumulate over time. By the time that an individual feels pain, the damage is done, and care must be taken to re-strengthen and heal.

A comfy shoe feels great if it's got a bounce. I'll give you that. But we are missing out on a wealth of information that our feet can tell us about the ground. Have you ever run barefoot? You will find that the gait of your run is completely different. You become far more tentative with where and how your foot lands. The toe goes down first, rather than thumping down on the heel. This completely changes the resulting impact on the rest of the body.

I met a very health conscious chap who had been struggling for years with the painful condition plantar fasciitis. After many attempts to treat this with a variety of stretches, types of instep, and visits to the Doctor, he was near his wits end, when eventually had some advice which worked. He learnt of a shoe called 'vivo-barefoot', which is designed with as little support and sole as possible. After a couple of days exercising in these flat shoes and going barefoot as often as possible, he had a complete turn around of this condition. 

Why are sporting people disproportionately affected by plantar fasciitis, and knee, hip, and back problems? Chronic physical problems usually develop from sustained dysfunction or micro injuries over a long period of time. Training shoes throw off the natural balance of the body, which leads to cumulative problems later down the line.

If you need further convincing, here are some additional health benefits of kicking those shoes off:

• Stimulate your reflex points -  The soles of our feet connect to the entire body via meridians. Chinese medicine states that stimulation of the feet will assist healthy energy flow in the body, for both relaxation and longevity. 
• Protect your physiology - Improve the strength, flexibility and mobility of your feet. Allowing the feet and toes room to spread and roll aids your natural balance and protects the whole body from the harming effects of cramped conditions and shoes which inhibit your foot space.
• Get grounded - We need contact with outside earth, water, or sand to literally Earth ourselves - and to gain the Earth's healing electrons. A balanced electric charge to the body protects the body from disease and inflammation. Constantly wearing rubber shoes and staying indoors is a big problem for the health of humanity. 
• Experience the added depth of sensation - Dance, martial arts, gymnastics, climbing, yoga... just a few things that seem to work so much better without shoes. The ground beneath us provides a wealth of information that helps to instruct balance, coordination and sophisticated movement

My heart admires others who have chosen to go shoe-less, for whatever reason. There seems to be a hint of earthy rebellion to it... which is odd, considering how natural it really is. My partner and I recently walked barefoot for ten miles on the Cornish coastal footpath. Despite some perplexed looks, we felt great for it. Liberate yourself from the norm! I encourage everyone to go barefoot as often as possible. Why do you think the beach feels so good? Even just walking barefoot about a lawn more often could have untold health benefits. Try for yourself and see. Your body will thank you for it.

Do you live in Cornwall? Phoebe offers Sports Massage and Yoga Tuition from two lovely clinics near Truro. 07971300535