My flip flops have been starting the process of breaking down, and it’s that time of the year when I go looking for the best flip flops I can find. I always have a hard time finding ones that are a good balance between well made, comfortable, and priced right. During my quest I was talking with my carpool buddy who is a runner. He mentioned his freaky weird running shoes called Vibram Five Fingers.
Wow, those are odd I said to him. Then I started drinking the kool aid as I read how modern shoes relax the foot as it walks and so we smash the heel into the ground and that shock travels up the leg. While if you have no shoes on you tend to land on the ball of your foot and the shock is absorbed more with the bending of your ankle and your calf muscles. I’ve linked a study from Harvard below, this page really swayed me. Now I walk barefoot a lot already b/c flip flops come off so easily and I thought, yes that is true. I agree and it makes sense. I’m going to order some and walk around all day in them. And that’s what I did. While it might take Joy a bit to get used to my new shoes, I think I like them so far. Don’t worry honey, they make a kid sized version too!
5 Reasons to Walk Barefoot:
- Strengthens Muscles in the Feet and Lower Legs—Going barefoot will stimulate and strengthen muscles in the feet and lower legs, improving general foot health and reducing the risk of injury.
- Improves Range of Motion in Ankles, Feet and Toes—No longer ‘cast’ in a shoe, the foot and toes move more naturally.
- Stimulates Neural Function Important to Balance and Agility—When going barefoot, thousands of neurological receptors in the feet send valuable information to the brain, improving balance and agility.
- Eliminate Heel Lift to Align the Spine and Improve Posture—By lowering the heel, your bodyweight becomes evenly distributed across the footbed, promoting proper posture and spinal alignment.
- Allow the Foot and Body to Move Naturally—Which just FEELS GOOD.
Harvard Study on Barefoot Striking
Videos examples
CNBC Article