To develop strong muscles, dense bones, and healthy nerves, our feet need to be worked just like other body parts. That’s why some podiatrists recommend spending as much time as possible barefoot — or in minimalist footwear that protects the skin and allows the foot its full range of motion.
“Tissue needs to feel load in order to adapt,” explains biomechanist Katy Bowman, MS, author of Rethink Your Position. “If you’ve cushioned and immobilized your feet with rigid shoes, they no longer feel load. So, you’re putting the weakest part of you underneath your entire body weight.”
Still, don’t just chuck your Chucks and head out for a barefoot sprint. “There’s a lot of transitional work needed if you’ve been wearing shoes for decades,” she cautions. “Exercises and awareness can help you transition successfully.”
(For more on barefoot training, see “Bare Your Sole: Barefoot Training.”)
As the literal foundation of our bodies, our feet are crucial to keeping us active and healthy. See “What Your Feet Are Trying to Tell You,” from which this article was excerpted, for six common foot issues and steps to relieving them.
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