Regaining our natural connection to the earth
What can barefoot shoes help with?
Increased strength, balance and stability
Conventional shoes have something called a heel-to-toe drop, where the heel is raised. Even in trainers, this is often the case! In particular, a raised heel shortens your calf muscles, reduces your range of motion, and can be painful for your lower body.
Barefoot shoes instead have what we call a ‘zero drop’, where the sole is completely flat the entire length of the shoe. This is our foot’s natural state, and when you wear barefoot shoes, you’ll be using muscles that you wouldn’t in more conventional shoes. Studies have shown that wearing barefoot shoes for just six months can increase foot strength by up to 60% while improving natural balance and stability so you stand upright in a more healthy posture.
Decreased pain
Ever worn a pair of shoes that force your toes into shapes they really don’t like? That’s pretty common in conventional shoes – if your feet hurt, it’s usually the shoes that are the problem!
Barefoot shoes instead can reduce pain by giving your feet plenty of room. All barefoot shoes feature what we call a wide ‘toe box’ – the area where your toes usually sit in the shoe. By allowing your feet to spread naturally, you’ll improve your posture and alignment, meaning less pain and discomfort.
Improves sensory input
Did you know that the place in the brain that registers sensory input from the feet is the same size as the one that receives input from your hands? By wearing conventional footwear, you can be starving your brain of this connection!
Barefoot or minimalist shoes give your brain far more sensory input from your feet, which helps improve movement and reduce pain. Paediatricians recommend that children should be barefoot as possible to improve their sensory input and strengthen feet and ankles.
