Barefoot Exercise: What's the Fuss About?

Barefoot exercise is hardly a new concept, after all, men did everything barefoot before shoes were invented. Although barefoot running, weightlifting, and other forms of exercise are not new, some athletes have taken them to the next level.

The latest fad in the fitness world is that barefoot exercise is much more beneficial than exercise done while wearing those expensive specialized shoes. The article delves into the pros and cons of going barefoot at the gym.

The feet are the only part of the body that makes contact with the ground. The human foot contains more than 26 bones and a plethora of neuroreceptors, all of which are responsible for stability and balance. People who are advocating barefoot exercise argue that shoes restrict these functions of the feet.

We do not completely understand if this is true and more research is needed, however, for now, medical professionals are split on whether or not high-intensity workouts, such as barefoot running, can help reduce injuries.

Exercising barefoot can improve the balance and stability promoting neuroreceptors of your feet (Image via Pexels @Ketut Subiyanto)

History of Going Barefoot

Native American tribes have been barefoot hunters for hundreds of years. Abebe Bikila, an Ethiopian runner, and Olympic gold medalist in 1960, claimed that he trained for and ran in his native country without shoes. The trend of running without shoes has grown since then.

Benefits of Barefoot Exercise

Proponents of barefoot exercise claim that it offers numerous health benefits, from relieving stress to increasing strength, and can save money by eliminating the need to buy special shoes. Some of the advantages it offers are:

• Better proprioception (the awareness of one's own position in space, relative to other objects, and the actions one can perform)
• Improved foot flexibility and strength
• Improved blood circulation
• Improvements in stability and balance
• Improvements in memory

Risks of Barefoot Exercise

Exercising barefoot doesn't come without its own set of risks and dangers. Landing barefoot increases stress on the mid and forefoot as the runner does not soften the impact by rolling off the heel. Other dangers include:

• When exercising outside, rough terrain can cause injury
• Injury caused by weights or equipment
• Increased soreness in the calf muscles
• Number of foot stress fractures may increase
• Slow gait movement

Yoga and Pilates exercises often advocate going barefoot (Image via Pexels @Alexy Almond)

Tips for Exercising Barefoot

It's important to be careful when going for barefoot exercise, especially as you get used to exercising without sneakers or other foot protection. Keep yourself from getting hurt or tired by following these suggestions.

• Warm up properly before starting.
• Take it easy, especially in the beginning stages of your learning.
• Feet should be stretched before and after every workout.
• Don't try to do too much of everything at once; instead, pick one exercise per day to concentrate on, like running one day and weightlifting the next

Feet need to be strong and flexible as we age, but are often overlooked when planning an exercise routine. Barefoot exercise, on the other hand, has been shown to enhance this effect and fortify the link between the brain and the rest of the body.

The final considerations for going barefoot are hygiene, floor surface (carpet or other), location (home, gym, outside), and safety.

Before beginning this kind of exercise, you should talk to your doctor or a podiatrist if you have any concerns. Exercising barefoot has many advantages, and if you are a high-level athlete or aspire to train like one, you may want to consider some of them.