Your everyday shoes aren’t made for humans.

While this may not be shocking for some, a lot of individuals aren’t aware of the devastating impact that modern footwear has on the feet. People can speculate on many underlying reasons big shoe companies might want to hurt our feet. However, the reason that is generally accepted is that new developments in technology and fashion have left a profound impact on footwear, leading shoes to become thicker and taller. But is this really good for us?

A new alternative footwear brand called barefoot shoes has recently started gaining popularity on the internet, and for good reason. These shoes are getting rid of all the unnecessary protection and mimic our own feet allowing us to regain the strength and control of our feet we once had. These shoes have little to no sole, a wide toe box, zero arches, and are typically a fraction of the cost of regular shoes. Here are some reasons why you should switch to barefoot shoes.

Lessens Back Pain

A lot of modern footwear has a sole that is pointed down with an upward arch around the toes. This will leave your feet with an unnaturally downward-facing arch. Because of this, the knees will constantly be in flexion which shortens the hamstring. When the hamstrings become tight, the pelvis is pulled into anterior flexion which then causes back pain. With the lack of a tilted sole on the barefoot shoes, the body can move naturally keeping the hamstring, hips, and back more aligned than in regular shoes. This will over time lead to less back pain and more lower-body mobility.

Assists a natural foot arch

In typical shoes, there will likely be a forced arch in the shoe that allows people more comfort when wearing their shoes. A foot arch is very important but serves no purpose when it comes artificially. A good foot arch comes from strength in the toes and heel. When a foot is strong, an arch will naturally occur allowing for pain-free movement. Being forced into an unnatural arch can be good for the short term but can have negative long-term effects on foot strength and arch.

Reduces the risk of bunions and helps with balance

If you were to take a look back in time before shoes were even invented, you would see that human toes would be very spread out. The toe boxes in modern footwear keep getting smaller and smaller, with a lot of them resembling the shape of a triangle. The forcing of the feet together for years on end leads a lot of people to have bunions and at the very least foot pain. With the wide toe box in barefoot shoes, the toes will eventually spread out leading to better balance and reduced chance of bunions.

Reduces the chance of injury

The excessive amount of padding in regular shoes provides our feet with a ton of support. Is this really a good thing though? Our feet have become so used to having that support that we are losing the muscle that is meant to give the support in the first place. Our feet have begun to lose their function leading to excessive and unnecessary injuries. Barefoot shoes allow us protection on our feet from the elements, but otherwise, let our feet function like they would barefoot. This means a reduced chance of injury and an increase in strength that can be helpful in everyday situations.

Reduce injury and pain and

Be well, Auburn