Is it ok to train while being barefoot?

Definitely yes, if we speak about health, but yet dangerous. Everyone knows how hard it is to wear high heels. The price for beauty can be quite expensive. But, few people know that the soft backing of sneakers can be just as harmful to your foot. On the one hand, the special pad standing in the way between the surface and your body interferes with the brain signals, giving the wrong picture of the required load and balance, weakens the ankles and is nothing more than a crutch for walking. Walking barefoot, although it has a number of indisputable advantages, has its own risks and is not suitable for everyone. Before trying this, you should be aware of the pros and cons of doing this. Why walk barefoot at all? This is useful! Dr. Paul Langer claims that this practice makes your joints and muscles work harder and your feet open up more naturally. It straightens the fingers, increases joint mobility It was a surprise to many researchers that leg strength can only be increased by choosing the right minimum footwear, without special exercises. Comfortable, cushioned shoes make us walk in a different way. We go further, thus affecting absorption of shocks in different areas of our feet. While Lagner is unfamiliar with studies showing the long-term perspective of changes in proprioception due to shoes, it is quite clear to him that the amount of information your brain get from your walking depends on how little fabric is between you and the ground. In simple terms, walking barefoot gets more signals to your brain and with time allows you to increase your abilities. How safe is it? Yes, although it has some risk, the doctor continues. This may include the following points: - physical deformations (blows, cuts, etc.); - associated possible infections; - falling of something heavy on unprotected legs. Also, the main obstacle for you is that you are simply not ready for such an experience. Your feet are used to the comfort and balance that soft shoes give you. Having deprived them of them, may fall a lot easier, twist your ankle without calculating your step. At the next stage, the risks are associated with where exactly you train. For big city life, you simply cannot afford to go barefoot through the muddy and uneven streets of the city, while the good old beach is great for this. Barefoot training in the gym is incredibly disgusting and unhygienic, but at home it is more than encouraged. If any of these factors confuses you, try minimal shoes first. Where to begin? The doctor categorically warns against a sudden transition barefoot walking. Begin with something small, first your house, yard, feeling of different surfaces. Take your time, do not make sudden movements to avoid injury. Watch where and what you step on. Yoga is something you do next. This will allow you to test your balance capabilities and also save you the risk of dropping something on your fingers, since no equipment is needed for such activities. Barefoot risks In many ways, this is like jumping to any activity too quickly. You cannot start jogging abruptly every day if you were previously inactive. So it is with walking barefoot. The new experience should be done gradually and carefully. In addition to the previously mentioned risks, it can provoke pain in any area of your leg. More than that, you can ruin your gait if you rush things. How can soft-soled shoes still be good for you It is worth mentioning the advantages that soft shoes allow. A lot of people who have injuries or often feel pain in their legs just need a solution to their problems. Moreover, the cushioning reduces the stress on the legs and fatigue occurs later. Comfortable shoes, in and of themselves, are neither a bad option nor a good one. It has both pros and cons. Dr. Lagner does not allow his patients to switch to minimal shoes or walking barefoot until they have fully recovered from their injuries. And even then, if such a practice causes pain, he places a restriction on such activity, if he does not forbid it at all. Some of the doctor's patients noted that there is a fixed number of hours that they can spend barefoot. This kind of exercise is still walking, so you should not forget about your own comfort and give up if you are in constant pain.