Going Shoeless

If you really want to be free, go barefoot. Not that most people will run or bike barefoot, but spending adequate time without shoes is important for physical health. Being barefoot is, in itself, a great therapy—especially if you have a foot problem—because it’s the best and quickest way to rehabilitate your feet. It’s also one of the best preventive measures to avoid future foot problems.

Without the restriction of shoes, your foot muscles can ultimately return to their natural state of optimal function. In some people, this could take time. For example, if you’re used to wearing thick-soled running shoes, being barefoot will be a big transition. But once you experience the freedom of being barefoot, you’ll wonder how you got by without it. There are two ways to go barefoot. First, you can spend a certain amount of time walking barefoot, much like a therapeutic exercise. Second, you can incorporate being barefoot into your lifestyle—just be barefoot as much as possible in all that you do.

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Baring your soles may be difficult for some, not just physically but mentally and emotionally, too. After all, we’re taught by society that being barefoot is somehow dirty or low class. Yes, when you walk or run barefoot your soles will get dirty. But you’ll track less dirt compared to wearing shoes—you’ll actually look where you’re walking when barefoot and avoid stepping on things you don’t think about when wearing shoes. And your feet won’t pick up any more germs than your hands or mouth.

For those who need support—not the type in the shoes but mental and emotional support—consider the Dirty Sole Society (www.BareFooters.org), Barefoot Runners (www.BarefootRunner.org), Parents for Barefoot Children (www.Unshod.org/pfbc), and other groups that promote healthy barefoot living. We are not alone.

Physically, making the transition to bare feet will involve toughening up your soles. This sometimes makes people uneasy, but consider that the more time spent barefoot, the less calluses you’ll have. Even though your soles may get tougher, you won’t notice it except in being able to walk or even exercise barefoot almost anywhere without discomfort. Even though you’ll have tougher soles, you’ll actually have more sensation in your feet as a result of being barefoot.

Note: The state of being barefoot is referred to as being “unshod”—meaning unshoed—while wearing shoes is called “shod.”