Going Barefoot: 5 Amazing Benefits
Since time immemorial, humans have used simple methods to roam around: with their bare feet. Prehistoric men, whether celebrating or hunting, never used protective barriers for their feet. In fact, it was believed that they develop stronger limbs, which made them good hunters of their time.
Today, humans are susceptible to many injuries even when wearing shoes for protection. If you would wonder how come our ancestors survived the hazards with their barefoot, here are some of the best answers:
1. Running and walking barefoot makes your feet stronger.
When you run or walk barefoot, you hips, legs, tendons, ligament and feet develop more muscle strength which are not properly utilized when you wear shoes. You will also improve your strides, balance and movement as well as the coordination of the smaller muscles of your feet. However, do not run or walk barefoot if you have serious illnesses such as diabetic neuropathy, skin lesions and poor circulation.
2. Running and walking barefoot provides better movement and flexibility.
Running and walking barefoot makes it easier for you to stretch your foot muscles. When you run barefoot, your strides extend naturally since you are able to land your foot properly on the ground. You will also avoid the risk of straining your calf muscles caused by the elevated heels of running shoes. Athletes in many sports such as beach volleyball, gymnastics, martial arts and water sports that include swimming, surfing, water skiing and water polo participate barefoot because it allows them to move with greater flexibility, coordination and agility.
3. Walking barefoot is good for the health.
Have you ever tried walking with bare feet on the grass? If you have not, you can try since it has been observed that there are cooling effects on your body by treading on green grass during the early hours of the morning. Walking barefoot also improves blood circulation to your heart and reduces stress on your cardiovascular system, which may have astounding effects on your blood pressure. It is also very effective in getting rid of flat feet. Running barefoot also helps regulate your body temperature.
4. Walking barefoot provides great relaxation.
Walking barefoot makes an effective relaxing technique. If you have grown tired of deep breathing exercises and guided imagery as relaxing strategies, try walking barefoot, perhaps on the beach during early morning. This relaxes your mind and body, enough to keep you sane during the day. Walking barefoot indeed relieves you of tensions and stress, and helps boost your energy level. It helps tone your foot muscles which keep them strong and young. Walking barefoot also gives you the chance to be in direct contact with the natural world.
5. Running barefoot allows a more natural movement.
When you run barefoot, the balls of your feet initially land on the ground which is observed to be the natural way of running. Running with shoes allows your heels to strike first on the ground which causes greater pressure to your body. Due to this condition, barefoot training in sports is becoming more popular. Barefoot running has its own success during trainings for the Olympic Games.
Author Bio: Danny loves writing about the foot condition Morton\’s Neuroma and other foot problems at his blog and can provide content for your blog. When not writing about foot problems, Danny loves to look for Morton\’s Neuroma shoes that provide relief without surgery.
Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: foot, shoes, footwear, mortons neuroma, barefoot, exercise, health