CONSIDER MINIMALIST SHOES BEFORE GOING COMPLETELY BAREFOOT

When a toddler is learning to walk, parents are encouraged to let this process happen naturally. Without shoes. “That’s because shoes can affect how a child uses the muscles and bones in their feet,” says a recent Healthline Report. Kids receive feedback from the ground when they walk barefoot, which improves awareness of their body in space. Translating that to adults, it is also noted that advocates of barefoot walking and exercising “are pushing back on wearing shoes all day long and encouraging all of us to let our feet be free.”

Dr. Bruce Pinker

 

As board-certified podiatrist and foot surgeon Bruce Pinker, DPM points out to Healthline, the benefits are considerable: better foot mechanics, which begets improved mechanics of the hips, knees, and body core; Stronger leg muscles, supporting the lower back region; and relief from improperly fitting shoes, which may cause bunions or other shoe-caused foot conditions. Dr. Pinker also suggests considering using a minimalist shoe before going completely barefoot. 

Source: Chuck Norris, The Eagle [1/25/21]

Courtesy of Barry Block, editor of PM News