We all know the joke, how the IT support guys always advise you when you have any technical problem, "Have you tried turning it off and on?" Similarly, for most musculoskeletal health problems, we can (with exaggeration) ask you, " And have you tried changing your shoes?"
Sore back? Change your shoes. Sore knees? Change your shoes. Shoulder pain? Try different shoes. Sore hips? Again, other shoes. Heel or toe pain? You have the wrong shoes. Bunions? Change your shoes. Aching joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles? Maybe it’s not the age but shoes! Hunched back, bulging belly, and feet twisted outwards? Even the wrong posture comes from shoes.
How does the body function?
The body is a complex system. Everything is connected to everything, and one broken part can affect the rest. There are usually several factors involved in one problem. However, let’s discuss the consequences of inappropriate footwear.
Shoes with a raised heel transfer the body weight to the instep. It deactivates the transverse arch and, with prolonged exposure, weakens it. The weight pushes the toes against the toe box, which can lead to deformities (e.g. hallux, hammer toes, etc.), while on the other hand, the Achilles tendon suffers from shortening.
It doesn’t stop there because the wrong posture influences the rest of the body. By deviating from the center of gravity, the ankle collapses, which rotates the knee inwards and eventually leads to knee joint Osteoarthritis or their complete collapse (X-shaped legs). The whole limb rotates at the hip, the pelvis tilts forward, and the imbalance is carried further down the spine. Pain in the sacrum is just one of the many consequences.
Similarly, shoes with the toe pointing upwards transfer all the weight to the heel. Heel stamping causes more wear and tear to the heel and heel bone, forming heel spurs. In addition, there is a lack of weight on the toes, so they cannot work actively, which leads to muscle weakening and poor foot unwinding. As a result of ligament tightening of the bottom surface of the foot, the arch is lowered.
When the weight is on the heels, the leg bends at an unnatural angle at the knee, causing both knee ligaments and the menisci to suffer. The pelvis tilts backward, relaxing the internal abdominal muscles, leading to a bulging abdomen and overloading the lumber region. It is probably clear to you at this point that shoes with a raised toe, a raised heel, or even both won't be right for your health. Unfortunately, most conventional footwear is like that.
Zero-drop
One of the characteristic features of barefoot shoes is a flat sole, so without a raised heel or toe. The body weight is evenly distributed over the entire foot surface, the center of gravity is in equilibrium, and there is no unwanted twisting of the joints. The arch of the foot actively works and holds the desired shape.
While barefoot shoes won’t magically fix your chronic pain, they will relieve the stress that causes it. It gives your body time to regenerate gradually and return to a naturally healthy state. As is commonly recommended, "Consult your physician for any health complications." We must add: "Consult your physician for possible effects of inappropriate footwear on your health."
And if there are no dedicated experts against giving barefoot shoes a try, we recommend trying barefoot shoes for yourself. You’ll find many stylish pairs for women and men on our website, and we guarantee next-day delivery. If you make your feet comfortable, they will positively affect the rest of your body sooner or later.
So the next time you want to complain about your aching back, sore knees, and other ailments, consider whether you can help yourself by renewing your shoe closet.