Free the feet!

So, add it to my list of crunchy obsessions. I seem to find a new one every couple weeks. Barefootedness!

I first came across it in a running forum I frequent. The idea is that most shoes, especially sneakers and the like, have arch support, a heel that's higher than the toe, and excess padding. Seems weird to do away with something that has "support" in the name! But really, it's support that's not doing you any favours. It's like sitting in a wheelchair when you have perfectly capable legs for walking. Sit in it too long your legs muscles will start to atrophy. That's exactly what happens to your feet. All the many muscles in your foot become weak. The tendon behind your heel shortens, especially if you wear high heels. Your bones form and mold to the shoe. You lose communication with the ground. You walk/run differently because the padding prevents you from feeling what you're doing wrong. Maybe not too big a deal for walking, but as runners know, the "heel strike" can cause some serious damage. I know it all too well. I got plantar fasciitis 2 summers ago.  Owie! Plus, the heel strike is just an inefficient style of running. Landing midfoot is actually more efficient!

This is especially true for young growing children. Their feet are that much more vulnerable. The difficult thing is that going shoeless isn't always an option. Obviously in winter you're going to need some form of footwear. Or in places that are dangerous. But if you aim for shoes that are as thin, flat and flexible as possible, as often as possible, you'll be doing your feet a favour. I busted out an old pair of tennis shoes. They'll do for now. I'm probably going to go buy a pair of ballet slippers! And for summer running I'm thinking of getting those infamous Vibram Five Fingers. I think that's nearly as close as you can get to barefooting that you can wear outside and not wear out in a day. I need to go shopping!