Barefoot shoes and Feet Health

I spend a lot of time thinking about setting myself up for a comfortable life in my body as I get older. In pregnancy I turned my focus towards foot health. Specifically surrounding comfort and ease. I have this working theory that we have corrupted everything that involved being human. From the womb to the tomb. Along these line of thinking, somewhere along the line we normalized wearing tight, binding shoes and the foot pain and damage that comes along with it. Almost 9 years ago I worked as a Nurse’s aid in a nursing home where so many of the elders I helped take care of had mangled feet, from years of wearing tight shoes that changed the shape of their feet over time.

I want to preface this by saying that if you have a foot or muscle condition that requires a specific kind of shoe then this post may not be fore you. But if you have no issue wearing any kind of shoe and struggle with pain from wearing tight and uncomfortable shoes for fashion purposes then come to mama and read on

I wear them with everything, even on dates where we obnoxiously use the self timer to take smooch pics in public. Happy 6 years together babe <3

I used to associate barefoot shoes with those hideous finger toe shoes that used to be all the rage a few years ago. But thankfully the Barefoot shoe movement has lots of small businesses and makers who create gorgeous products for people who care about their foot health. Wearing improper shoes overtime can cause long term damage to the muscles, tendons, and bones in the feet causing issues like muscular atrophy as well as more common issues like corns and bunions. The idea behind barefoot shoes is that they mimic being barefoot while providing protection from the elements . Allowing the feet to move and flex naturally is paramount to good feet health. This is especially true for children whose bodies are still developing. Most store bought kids shoes are terribly stiff and narrow and constricting to the still delicate and growing muscles of a child’s foot.

So where does one begin?

First off, go barefoot as much as you can if you can bare it. Get used to the feeling of your natural gait unencumbered by heavy and uneven shoes.

The internet and Youtube are a gold mine for learning about barefoot shoes and how to transition over time to wearing them. I didn’t need much of a transition because I spend a lot of time barefoot as a child and adult, but I did wear bouncy foam type sandals for a couple summers before I transitioned to a full barefoot shoe. If you are used to wearing heels, platforms and other shoes tight and binding you have may to get a happy medium as your feet adjust and you build back up the strength of the muscles in your feet. There are also lots of exercises and recommendations from podiatrists online to help build back the strength.

For children, starting them off in barefoot shoes from the time they start walking in places that require shoes is best. Robeez and similar shoes are flexible and allow for their feet to move naturally while protecting them from the elements. As they get older, brands like See Kai Run and man independent makers on Etsy make excellent shoes.

I personally now mostly wear Xero shoes. Their boots, and sandals are a favorite of mine because of the attention to detail and design that is put into their shoes. In the summer, I wear the Jessie sandal everywhere in the summer and fall , and in the winter I wear the Mika boot. Both of these shoes provide me with the ample flexibility and toe space I currently require to wear shoes comfortably.

On and herbal note:

If you are experiencing foot pain, try doing foot soaks with epsom salts, or using topical arnica gel/cream or even cayenne cream to aid in pain relief.

Peace, Farai