Benefits of walking barefoot

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Extract from the article: It's a well-known fact that few people in urban environments walk barefoot on a regular basis. Fear of injury, fear of ridicule, fear of falling ill - the excuses are many. But do we know that walking barefoot can have health benefits? However, it's

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It's a well-known fact that few people in urban environments walk barefoot on a regular basis.  Fear of injury, fear of ridicule, fear of falling ill - the excuses are many. But do we know that walking barefoot can have health benefits? However, it's essential to consider the risks associated with going barefoot in certain environments.

When we walk, it's the sole of the foot that brings the body into contact with the ground, supports the body's weight and allows us to feel the ground. Without the protection provided by footwear, this highly sensitive part of the body is exposed to the elements: barefoot walking thus becomes a kind of massage, with the beneficial effects of stimulating reflex points and zones directly linked to the various organs, systems and glands, according to foot reflexology. In this way, the soles of the feet are the foundation of reflex zones and optimal health for the whole body.

Muscle strengthening

Walking barefoot can help strengthen the muscles of the feet, ankles and legs, as it forces the muscles to work harder to support the body's weight. In fact, a study published in 2021, found that walking in minimalist shoes for 6 months led to an increase in foot strength of almost 60%.

Better balance and stability

Walking without shoes allows for greater tactile sensitivity of the feet. This can improve proprioception or deep sensitivity, which refers to the perception, conscious or otherwise, of the position of different parts of the body.Barefoot walking can improve posture.

Maintaining joint mobilityWalking barefoot can help maintain the natural mobility of foot joints. Shoes can restrict certain movements.

Contact between body and earth

An article in the Journal of Inflammation Research shows a link between direct skin contact with the earth and a reduction, or even elimination, of signs of inflammation such as redness, heat, swelling and pain.

Barefoot walking, an old tradition

In some countries, there are a few rare paths made of sand, grass, earth or even mud where you can experience the different sensations of walking barefoot.Yet, as far back as the 19th century, barefoot walking has been advocated as a way of strengthening the immune system, and treating certain physical (joints, muscles) and psychological (insomnia, stress) disorders.With or without shoes, the foot is not positioned in the same way under the weight of the body. By constantly wearing shoes, all the muscles, tendons, joints and ligaments of the feet can gradually lose their strength and functionality, which can have a negative impact on posture and reflexes.Footwear will restrict the foot's natural movements and sensory stimulation, leading to a reduction in muscle strength.

In fact, numerous studies have shown that when our ancestors walked barefoot on stony ground, each step they took produced a self-massage of the arch of the foot. In this way, feet in contact with the earth benefit from the earth's energy.This energy penetrates through the feet, crosses the body to the head and then descends, sweeping away impurities that dissolve in the soil. Unfortunately, too often today we walk with our shoes on flat surfaces.Our feet are isolated from the earth and deprived of this noble function of self-massage.Regularly walking unshod on unsealed ground is the best way to benefit from the self-massaging energy of the earth and improve your health.

William O.

Article validated by Line Odoh, President of the Association des Praticiens de la de la Réflexologie du Togo (APRT)