Dr. Brett Hill - Eat Think Move Chiropractic

Whenever I go for a personal training session at my gym, my trainer insists that I take my shoes off - and for good reason.

Not only does it protect his precious padded floors, but it provides benefits for me as well. You see, we didn't always wear padded shoes with NASA technology in the sole and dead flat bottoms, and walk around on perfectly smooth floors. In fact, modern shoes may be so ‘good' they are making your feet lazy, weak and prone to injury.

The truth is our bodies need movement and our feet are no exception. Exercising with no shoes enables your foot to go through a larger range of motion. It also helps to strengthen the muscles in and around the foot because they are activated a lot more without the shoes taking up the slack.

There is also a neurological reason for going barefoot. With your shoes off you will fire more of the nerve endings (proprioception) in your feet that tell your brain where your body is in space. This is important not just for improving your balance and coordination but also because of the effect it has on your brain. After your spine, your feet are one of the most important sources of this important feedback which has been likened to a windmill which drives the power station of your brain by researchers.

There are of course a few things you need to consider before you head off footloose and fancy free. Some places are inappropriate to be barefoot. Your local gym probably won't appreciate it if you are running barefoot on their treadmill or putting your sweaty feet on their weights machines. You should also be aware of your environment. Things like broken glass and even something as simple as a stray twig can do serious damage to a bare foot. Finally some conditions will prohibit barefoot exercising, for instance a diabetic with limited foot sensation may cause serious damage before they even notice a problem. So as always consult your health care professional.

Have you tried barefoot training?