Are barefoot shoes good for your feet?
They certainly are! In recent years, barefoot shoes have become increasingly popular among podiatrists and experts due to their numerous benefits. One of them is that they allow your feet to move as if you were really barefoot – with traditional sneakers, your toes cannot spread and move your feet as they naturally would, but with barefoot shoes, they can.
Barefoot shoes have also been found to improve foot strength because you are not dependent on thicker shoes for balance, traction and stability.
However, having said that…
Who should not wear barefoot shoes?
Unfortunately, barefoot shoes aren’t ideal for everyone. It takes some getting used to before your foot can use its own strength to support itself (and all of your weight). Doctors recommend that people with current or past foot stress, whether it’s muscle strains or other injuries, surgery, or plantar fasciitis, don’t wear barefoot shoes. The reason for this is that your foot is already under stress, and barefoot shoes can cause overuse of your muscles.
How do I start wearing barefoot shoes?
Experts do not I recommend just putting on your first pair of barefoot shoes and wearing them all the time. Like I said, it takes some getting used to. Your foot is used to arch support, heel drop, and much better shock absorption than barefoot shoes provide. So when you buy your first pair, ease yourself into them slowly. Wear them for about an hour a day for the first week, then a couple hours a day the next week, and so on until you’re ready to wear them all the time.
