Credits: Social Media
Physical therapist’s advice to walk barefoot will make you ditch modern shoes
Let’s talk about one of the most controversial topics of all time – walking barefoot. A physical therapist’s graphical representation of the practice will convince you to jump on the bandwagon.
Walking itself is highly beneficial to health. It’s shown to reduce back pain and regulate blood glucose levels among many other amazing benefits. As surprising as it sounds, ditching your shoes while walking is an added bonus, it seems.
Benefits of going barefoot
Walking sans footwear is a growing trend, but how well do people understand its benefits or drawbacks? A physical therapist better explains what happens when you go barefoot.
Dr. Aaron Horschig says you should consider ditching your shoes “often” for better foot function. He claims our feet can naturally develop an arch when we stop wearing narrow shoes.
“One of the shocking changes that happens when you start going barefoot more often is a better ability to control the arch of the foot,” he says. Arches are crucial to balance and offer more flexibility when running or walking.
Even those recommended to wear shoes with hard arches to support flat feet can develop deformities over time due to constricted motion.
Dr. Aaron says you can naturally develop an arch and strengthen the small muscles in your foot by going barefoot often. “Most people don’t need arch-support orthotics because their feet are the support,” he says.
You can watch the graphical representation of the benefits of walking without shoes in the physical therapist’s TikTok video, which isn’t embedded in the article as the language may not be suitable for all audiences.
How to safely practice it
While walking barefoot at home is generally safe, considering the floors are clean and well-maintained, you must be cautious while stepping out.
Furthermore, people with pre-existing health issues, such as diabetes, must be extra careful about ditching their shoes as they can sustain wounds on their feet without realizing which can escalate due to their condition.
Healthline suggests, starting slow, walking barefoot for only a few minutes a day at first to let your feet get used to it if you’ve always worn shoes. Walking on less dangerous surfaces such as turf, rubber tracks, sandy beaches, and grass.
It’s advised to get your foot checked on sustaining injuries while walking barefoot to avoid infections. Furthermore, running or hiking without shoes isn’t recommended for beginning.
Dr. Aaron Horschig is a physical therapist, and strength and conditioning coach. He holds a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Truman State University and received a doctorate in physical therapy from the University of Missouri.
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