How Shoes Can Harm Your Feet

When was the very first time the human foot was injured by a shoe? Probably the first time one was worn. Nothing is more stable, supportive, shock protective, and efficient than bare feet. As soon as a shoe is placed on the foot, there is a loss of mechanical stability and the potential for injury. Perhaps the very first shoe-related injury was a twisted ankle due to surprise instability. Or worse, being overtaken by a lion due to slower running speed or poor maneuverability in shoes. While most of us don’t have to run from wild animals, our shoes can still be dangerous.

Perhaps the first published scientific evidence describing the harm from shoes came in 1954 when researchers Basmajian and Bentzon measured the electrical activity in foot muscles using an electromyographic (EMG) device. This study showed that when shoes were placed on the feet, certain muscles lost significant function. Since that time many other studies have been published in medical journals showing the dangers associated with shoes. These can be easily found in the medical library online, but not easily found in the running magazines.

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There are a variety of specific problems associated with wearing shoes. I’ve broken these subjects down to four general categories: weight bearing, foot-sense and orientation, muscle and bone, and gait.