Although the idea of barefoot walking seems way out there, experts say there are times when you should consider doing it – and that it can actually benefit your feet.
Barefoot enthusiasts such as Simon J. Wikler, D.S.C., author of Take Off Your Shoes and Walk, says that most of the shoes we wear aren’t really made to fit our feet and that’s why we have so much trouble with our dogs. You only have to look at the shoes advertised on fashion pages to get the picture.
In fact, more people than ever have started running in bare feet. Marathon runners from Kenya do it all the time, but in the United States you're most likely to see a barefoot runner on the beach. Still, there are those who venture to other areas like grassy fields and even hiking trails.
And Nike has released the Nike Free, a "shoe that lets your foot run free on any surface." It's designed to mimic the effects of running barefoot. According to Nike, "Studies show that barefoot training leads to stronger feet; that stronger feet lead to a stronger body, and that natural movement enhances agility."
What if you’re not a runner? Well, going barefoot has other benefits:
• It helps straighten out your toes.. At the same time, if you walk bare foot, even the lazy muscles of your feet are prompted to move and develop more, with the result that you have toned and much stronger foot muscles.
