From BZ/dpa
Get rid of shoes and socks, especially in summer, because walking barefoot is healthy. It just takes a little training.
Walking barefoot on the lawn is not only good for our feet, but for the whole body. Because many bodily functions are related to the health of the feet. Thomas Schneider, senior orthopedist at the joint clinic in Gundelfingen (Bavaria), points this out.
The downside of the shoe
According to Schneider, an estimated three quarters of all adults have foot problems or foot deformities. The most common cause is the wrong footwear, which can also affect back and posture. If you walk barefoot instead, blockages in the vertebral joints and intervertebral disc problems dissolve, says Schneider.
In addition, bumps such as pebbles or mud affect the foot reflex zones, which is good for the organs. And if you walk barefoot on different surfaces, train your balance.
How best to walk barefoot
In principle, it’s very simple: take off your shoes and let’s go. But most feet are not used to walking barefoot. They are more familiar with the sheltered state in sturdy shoes.
In order not to overwhelm them, you should initially only go barefoot for short distances and for a maximum of one hour a day.
In the “transitional period”, the orthopedist recommends special running insoles that support the joints that are still untrained: “They help the foot to learn how to walk without cushioning again.”
Risk of injury on asphalt
Incidentally, Orthopäde Schneider advises even trained barefoot runners to be careful when running longer distances on hard surfaces such as asphalt and cement as well as gravel paths. There is a risk of injury. Better: meadows or beaches. Walking at home without slippers and socks is also good to give your feet enough space.
Long distances can often not be covered without shoes. Then enough space for feet and toes in the shoe is important to keep the body healthy.