Are Minimalist Barefoot Shoes Bad for You? Thoughts from a Physical Therapist

Are barefoot shoes good or bad? In this video, I go in depth on barefoot minimalist shoes.
If you want to check out some barefoot minimalist shoes, click here:
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About this Video: In this video, Physical Therapist Keith Nunez from the Durable Body (formerly Good Rehabits) talks about the benefits of minimalist shoes or barefoot shoes. He shows the different features of these shoes and how they benefit our feet. He also shows examples of his own shoes including the Xero Shoes Prios and the Vivobarefoot Primus Lite II Bio.
Music: Secret Sauce
Musician: Jeff Kaale

[@williamjackson2084]

I am a recovering stroke victim when I walked in socks at the hospital I had no problems. when i started walking in "Normal" shoes i slowly got worse at walking. I also developed hammer toes. I took out my insoles and started walking barefoot. now I just bought my first two pairs of zero shoes.

[@thedurablebody]

William that’s awesome! There’s so much benefit to feeling the ground underneath us, and your story highlights that. Welcome to the barefoot family!

[@Evideclin]

Are you doing better?

[@everettcorder5977]

I got an ad for Xero shoes and became intrigued by the idea. I have a slight bunion on my right foot and more recently have felt like my calves are always tight. After watching a few of your videos on them and some others, I think I am going to try them out.

[@thedurablebody]

Hey Everett! I'm sure your toes will thank you lol. Hope you like them!

[@Poogoo701]

barefoot style shoes are the best health investment I've ever made. I had nasty hammertoes and toes that would point inward, I also used to have problems with foot cramps. A combination of religious toe spacer use with foot exercises everyday have changed how my foot looks and functions.The only negative is that I cannot wear conventional shoes for very long since the cramped space hurts. I honestly believe the problem with lots of studies looking at the benefits of minimalists shoes are too simplistic in their design and don't really account for the plethora of variables each person has. Pardon the pun but there is no one size fits all approach to correcting your feet after decades of malfunction and potential malformation.

[@thedurablebody]

Pun appreciated! Glad to hear barefoot shoes helped you out!

[@elenikiroy]

Great comment and so true

[@ah5721]

surgery is the only way to fix bunions

[@Poogoo701]

@@ah5721 weird cause my toes splay out like a hand after religious toe space use.

[@Kermoedi77]

My skepticism comes from having the beginnings of plantar fasciitis. I used to wear minimalist shoes sometimes, but my feet got to where they would hurt a lot. I've switched to shoes that have support and my pain has subsided considerably.

[@fruitjuice5672]

How's your gait? What's your diet like?

[@Kermoedi77]

@@fruitjuice5672 I don’t know about my gait other than I try to walk softly. I’m a vegetarian, but I don’t know what that has to do with my feet.

[@thedurablebody]

Hey Brandon! This is for informational purposes only, not medical advice. Of course, consult with your doctor and PT😅 but plantar fasciitis can come from excessive stress to the plantar fascia which can come from weakness of the ankle and foot muscles that support the arch and control your feet from flattening out. So supportive shoes may provide some relief by offloading the plantar fascia and allowing it to settle down. But I would say without foot and ankle strengthening (and probably calf stretching), you wouldn’t be addressing the underlying issue. In my opinion, barefoot shoes can help since it does help you use those muscles more, but it’s also possible to over-do it beyond what your muscles and plantar fascia can handle at that moment just like with any exercise. If you ever do give barefoot shoes a try again, I would try easing into it and gradually increase the time I wear it and try some ankle strengthening and calf stretching. Hope that helps!

[@tentimetex]

Look at Mr Bodell's footwear, a channel i found. This older gentleman talks about specialist foot wear for plantar fasciitis, like Mephisto and such.

[@sunflowers730]

@@Kermoedi77 I think he asked about diet because if you eat a lot of inflammatory foods it can contribute to the problem.

[@zgirl3256]

I'm undecided about barefoot shoes. I've been wearing only barefoot shoes for 4 months now. I have been gradually experiencing knee and ankle pain. I feel that when I'm walking on footpaths, my joints are getting "jarred " with every step because of the absence of shock absorbancy. Joint pain has gotten so bad I've gone back to my old shoes and felt instant relief. On the positive side, I love having space for my toes to splay out in barefoot shoes, and also my balance has improved. When I started wearing them I felt very off balance and clumsy, walking like I was drunk, but after a couple of months that wasn't an issue. I also love feeling the ground through my barefoot shoes. So I just don't know, so many positives, yet the joint pain is off-putting.

[@thedurablebody]

Hey Z Girl! I think we learned to walk with a heavy step because we could get away with it with thick soles. The trick is trying to walk without much noise, like each step lands smoothly. Shorter steps help you take smoother, controlled steps. I'll make a video about it in the near future! Thanks for commenting!

[@Habanecro]

have you been doing exercises and stretches to strengthen your feet, legs, hips, and core? being mindful of your posture and gait is also very important if you want to make the most of barefoot shoes - gotta have a shorter stride and a mid/forefoot strike to avoid hurting your heels and knees

[@Apalakki]

Most of us have used heavily supportive and cushiones shoes for decades. That's decades of change in the foot structure and decades of supportive muscles in the feet being asleep. It's even doubly worse, if you live in a culture, where you wear shoes inside. It takes more than months to fix all those decades of change. In the beginning I'd advice transitioning to barefoot/minimalist shoes gradually using them only 1-2 hours at a time at first and then increasing usage. Joint pain is sign of doing too much too fast.

[@proyectocelina]

@@Apalakki the best answer!!

[@leamubiu]

Look into forefoot strike for strides. You can get away with heel strike if taking tiny steps, but as soon as there’s an impact you need to mobilize your own muscles to absorb the shocks. The Achilles tendon can only absorb shocks as a part of the giant spring that your toe-to-hip limb is.

[@buffalomind6838]

Wow! The best explanation for practically every reason why barefoot shoes should be the choice of footwear. I don’t have an issue whatsoever wearing regular shoes, but we can all attest to the the extreme form of discomfort that severely inflexible boots like a timberland sole along with it’s heel part that literally bloodies the back of your foot. I stayed away from boots like that as they have no practical use in everyday life, and even if I were to scale a mountain I’d be looking for smooth boots along the inner heel portion of said footwear. Now I just have to sort through the brands of minimalist brands out there to see what is best option for me.

[@thedurablebody]

Buffalo Mind, thanks so much for the support! Yeah, I'm personally not a big fan of boots either, unless it's functional. So far, the only brands I've had experience with are Xero Shoes and Vivobarefoot. Both have been pretty solid! Though Vivo is pretty pricey. I haven't tried any others. Have you found a brand you like?

[@thedurablebody]

👟Check out my review on the Xero Shoes Prio ➡️: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnvRqomInpKBo7M 🚨NEW Fall '21 Xero Shoes are 20% off for a limited time: xeroshoes.com/go/knunez/ffe543f5 ❓QUESTION: What are your thoughts on barefoot shoes? Yay or Nay? 👍👎

[@MrsSoup-iu4pq]

At the age of 60, having developed tendinosis and arthritis, I expected to be in pain for the rest of my life. Walking was agonizing and I woke up in pain every morning, hardly able to move. On a whim, I bought a pair of barefoot shoes. My pain has been reduced by well over 90%. I spend a good deal of time standing and walking on cement floors and even with that, a pretty decent percentage of my days are completely pain free. So my vote is, "Yay."

[@thedurablebody]

@@MrsSoup-iu4pq that’s so awesome to hear! There’s something to using those feet muscles and going barefoot that’s just good for us 💪🏼

[@Shamanscircle1]

Hi Keith, I'm hoping you could talk about the benefits/risks that minimalist shoes would have for people with non-athletic lifestyles? Would these be helpful for standing for long hours/not running or even very limited movement (think retail workers, trade workers, food industry, office, etc)? That's pretty much the camp I, and many friends, family, and colleagues are in.

[@thedurablebody]

Hey Brian! That's a good question. Anyone could reap the benefits mentioned in the video. However, the risks are much like doing too much of a workout if your muscles and tendons aren't adapted properly: they can get sore and irritated. I always recommend a gradual increase in time wearing it/distance walking in it. If your feet or ankles are on the verge of hurting at any point, then it's a good time to switch back to your old shoes. Over time, you'll be able to wear it for longer until you can wear it the whole day with no problems. Hope this helps!

[@ah5721]

I work on concrete in retail lifting paint . When I switched from cowgirl boots with a narrow box toe and a raised heel my feet hurt. I switched to wide toed doc martins - the sussex with a low heel .I don't hurt when I get off from work it helps to practice walking barefoot at home without a shoe of sorts so your bodies tendons can stretch out

[@sheilabernadetteclairemcin1107]

Love them

[@thedurablebody]

Hey Sheila! Thanks for watching! I’ve been wearing them for at least 2-3 years now and I still enjoy them

[@HenrikMyrhaug]

I usually walk around barefoot basically all summer, and I recently got myself a pair of barefoot shoes. I love how light and minimalistic they feel, but am still skeptical about these shoes being a complete life- changer. I really want to go all- in on these shoes, wearing them as my daily drivers, as I really love the ground feel. I have however heard that sudden change from cushioned shoes to minimalist shoes can lead to injury. Considering I am still quite young, and am already used to walking barefoot almost all summer, I am doubting this will be an issue, but it will be fun to see.

[@thedurablebody]

Hey Henrik! Yeah a gradual transition is always a good idea. Though, younger people with healthier feet probably would have an easier and faster transition. I'm using mine all day now without any problems. I'm sure you'll enjoy yours too!

[@Tate525]

What's your status now, if you ease in gradually, it won't cause any issues.

[@SlackisDead]

I'm more or less convinced. It makes sense that having a stronger foot could reduce injury, and that letting your toes go wider can improve balance. But I'm open to hearing about disadvantages.

[@Sonicstillpoint83]

In the same way that solid state drives hard drives provide more information to the CPU than the spinning hard drives do, increased sensory information input from the ground can’t help but improve The way someone goes through their daily life. I already started with a deficit in sensory information for Balance, since I am almost blind, and now having made me transition to barefoot ‘n shoes, I have a lot more confidence in each step because I am able to taken more information from my environment. What doctors said was a hopeless cause, is something that I am sure I will be able to improve slowly over time.

[@thedurablebody]

That’s a good way to put it! Yeah that makes sense. Balance uses your vision, vestibular system, and your sensory system in your feet. If your vision is impaired then you’ll need to rely on the others to maintain good balance.

[@melainekerfaou8418]

What about thermal insulation from the ground? That's one context where I fear a thin sole might really be detrimental, as I already have issues with cold feet, even with regular shoes.. Our ancestors did not have to walk barefoot on freezing concrete or scorching asphalt until they had at least developed deerskin mocassins.

[@thedurablebody]

Hey Melanie! That's an interesting point. Xero does make some winter-style boots/shoes which I haven't tried but I would imagine there's some insulation in there. I didn't have a problem with my feet getting cold in the winter as long as I was wearing some decent socks, but granted I live in Texas lol.

[@ulyssespayne5122]

Totally agree. I switched to barefoot shoes a year ago and never went back to so called “regular” shoes

[@thedurablebody]

Yes! I like to just wear it around the clinic to strengthen my feet but also it just feels comfy being “barefoot” at work lol

[@yourbore]

I switched to barefoot shoes, some xero prios, I guess I started to run too much too soon and got tendonitis in my achilles.

[@johnrambo5055]

I'm starting to transition, but I'm still trying to get rid of this pesky metatarsalgia. (pre-transition issue) I've had it for a year and it's much better, but still not 100% gone.

[@thedurablebody]

Hey John! Hope you enjoy the barefoot shoes! But of course, it's always a good idea to listen to your feet and make adjustments as needed. Hopefully, getting stronger will help your feet out.

[@danielhughes6896]

I recently got some vivobarefoot shoes, it appears to have fixed my Morton’s Neuroma.

[@thedurablebody]

Oh nice Daniel! It could be the wide toe box just giving room for your toes and forefoot to spread out!

[@AyyRainer]

i spent 3 days cycling in barefoot shoes (or aqua shoes kinda thing) and then i tried walkin into town n back with skater cushioned shoes, which is about a 2 hour walk, took then off after and my feet where KILLING me and i'd of normally been able to walk further

[@thedurablebody]

It's like once you go barefoot for a while, your feet don't want anything else lol

[@eggrollsoup]

@@thedurablebody yep

[@Chase3141]

One of my problems with minimalist shoes, and even something like Altras is that the toe box is too wide. I have a very narrow forefoot so my feet slide around a lot in them. I can fully splay my toes in pretty much all my shoes, and even most of those feel too wide.

[@thedurablebody]

Hey Chase! Have you tried seeing if some shoes have a narrow size like how they have wide sizes?

[@Chase3141]

@@thedurablebody Very few brands make narrow width shoes, and even less in minimalist shoes. As far as I know, Brooks and New Balance are the only brands that make running shoes in a true B width for men. The Inov-8 fit 1 might be narrow, but I haven't had a chance to try them yet, and they only make that in like 2 models. My other option is to wear women's shoes, but since I'm a men's 11 US, I would need a women's 12 or 12.5 which are also pretty hard to come by.

[@luisa146]

@@Chase3141 not sure if this might help, but german brand "groundies" makes a line of barefoot shoes with a narrower toebox. They still have zero drop and flexible sole. Compared to other barefoot shoes they also make more "regular shoe-like" models

[@bradymigel2385]

I have been told by my family when I see them that I should stop wearing Xero shoes; but I love them. I do need to work on my running form, however. They always say it's bad for my arches. Could you elaborate on the arches part you mentioned in the video? I want to know more.

[@thedurablebody]

Hey Brady! Thanks for watching! We have feet and ankle muscles that raise and lower our arches in our feet. The purpose for this is to help with shock absorption and to stiffen and stabilize the foot when we need to push off of it. Arch-support in shoes supports our arches for us which means those muscles don't need to work as much which means those muscles might get weaker. Wearing barefoot shoes forces those muscles to work and control the arch. There's even a study that showed an increase in foot strength after wearing barefoot shoes for a while. If your feet and ankles are strong, then your arches will be fine. Check out my videos about plantar fasciitis, flat feet, and walking in barefoot shoes to learn more about feet and arches! Hope it helps!

[@ThaStonedGardner]

So those Xero shoes that you show walking over the sticks, NOPE. I Have those same shoes and absolutely love them for doing deadlines and squats at the gym, but definitely not for walking around outside. One small rock or stick stepped on and you're cursing up a storm cuz that sh!t hurt. So I'm on the search for a minimalist shoe that has a bit of padding at the bottom. Something with a foot shaped toe box that I can run in and wear for eight hours working retail. Any suggestions?

[@Firegodot]

Hello I'm 27 right now and im someone who has walked most of their life on cheapo flipflops because its what I've always preferred they were my main footwear thru my teenage and college years be it on stone, dirt, grass or rain and out of hatred of how shoes feel too cramped, leaving my feet smelly and tying laces which has let me to have some of the benefits of barefoot shoes, my arc is pretty good, my toes are already spread out and have excellent mobility, I already am extremely mindful of how and where I take my steps but recently I've read that flip flops are some of the worst things you can wear and have a whole set of problems specific to them so I've been meaning to change to barefoot and wanted to know if they would be a good fit for me or if should try to get used to more regular shoes first

[@thedurablebody]

Hey! I think you would probably transition pretty easily into barefoot shoes, if I had to bet. But of course listen to your body and gradually transition as tolerated.

[@OriginalSuperfreak]

I love my Groundies 💖

[@thedurablebody]

I haven’t heard of them before but they look cool!

[@seanknot]

they need half sizes in these. and the issue i have with like 4/5 brands iss the rubber/toe cape my toe nails get caught on the toe protector.

[@thedurablebody]

Yeah I don’t know why Vivo doesn’t have half sizes 🤔 but Xero does!

[@seanknot]

@@thedurablebody only up to 11.5. All these tiny feet!

[@thedurablebody]

@@seanknot 😆 dang sorry man! #bigfeetproblems

[@sheilamarkle1379]

I am convinced and am looking to purchase minimalist shoes. I have recently noticed that as it is getting cooler and I am transitioning back to fall footwear I am experiencing more foot problems, knee pain and hip pain. I am wondering if this is because during the summer I have been wearing mostly shoes that are flat and are more like minimalist shoes?

[@thedurablebody]

Hey Sheila! That's a good possibility. Usually in the summer, we might be wearing open toed sandals which let your toes splay out or flats which are usually pretty minimal other than the narrow toe box. I remember after wearing barefoot shoes consistently, I tried wearing regular, very sturdy cross training shoes, and my feet actually got really sore lol.

[@FritzVonR]

Yo Mr Nuñez! I'm almost convinced minimal shoes are the way to go BUT since I had surgery for both my feet (chevron osteotomy) the flexibility of my big toes is hindered. So I can't roll off like before. Is it still a good idea to try barefoot shoes in my case?

[@thedurablebody]

Hey Friedrich! I probably can’t give you medical advice without seeing you or knowing your case in detail, so this is just for informational purposes and not prescriptive and you should consult your surgeon about it. First, it would depend on how long ago the surgery was. If it’s still early, then you’d want to follow the doctor’s prescription of wearing a boot/air cast/etc. I don’t think that surgery put any hardware across the joint that will physically limit it’s motion. I think the limitation would probably just be from joint stiffness from being in a boot or cast after surgery. So some big toe extension stretches would probably be beneficial so you can roll off your big toe better when walking in any type of shoe. The flexibility of the shoe could help with using the range of motion in the toe. Also, I would think having the wider toe box would feel better since your toes can spread out rather than be scrunched up. One way to see how it would feel on your big toes while wearing barefoot shoes is to just walk barefoot around your house for a long time. Hope this helps Fredrich!

[@FritzVonR]

@@thedurablebody I had the surgery over ten years ago and then another one to regain some mobility of one of the big toes. It helped a little but not that much. Walking around barefoot at home feels pretty good though! I'll give it a try. Thanks!

[@yourbore]

I got achilles tendonitis when I switched to barefoot shoes. How do I heal it, should I quit wearing barefoot shoes? Thank you for the information, great video!

[@thedurablebody]

Hey thanks for watching! I'm sorry to hear about your achilles tendonitis. As much as I support barefoot shoes, your achilles would likely feel better in a raised heel rather than zero drop heel until it calms down and you've strengthened your calf and achilles tendon. Some places to start, would be stretching your calf muscle if it's too stiff, but most importantly strengthening it with isometrics and eventually eccentrics. A physical therapist would be able to guide you in that. You might even find some helpful videos on KZbin lol. Hope this helps!

[@yourbore]

@@thedurablebody thank you so much for your reply, it helps a lot!

[@demus89]

Do you think that there are any benefits to wearing a barefoot shoe if your walking for 6 to 8 hours a day on hard concrete in a warehouse?

[@thedurablebody]

Hey Daimon! You'd still get the same benefits, but wearing barefoot shoes is a lot like working out or running. You have to gradually build up to wearing it for a full day. Start off with only part of the day for a little while and then increase it over time until you get to a full day. I give some tips on walking in barefoot shoes so you can avoid any problems: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4G7XqNoha5oqck Hope this helps!

[@winnienagel]

I am convinced. Sore after walking 270 km i one week... But convinced.

[@thedurablebody]

😳 that’s quite a distance! Were you on a pilgrimage or something?

[@winnienagel]

@@thedurablebody No. I am just hoping to go in a pilgrimage this year.

[@thedurablebody]

@@winnienagel that's awesome! Hope you get to go!

[@reginaalear]

Would you still recommend minimalist shoes for someone who has bad knees from being overweight for years? I’ve lost 100 lbs so I’m no longer overweight but I will have the knee problems for the rest of my life. I would like them for walking mostly but want to get into running.

[@thedurablebody]

Hey Regina! I can't give medical advice so this is information purposes only 😊 It honestly depends on what's going on with your knees. Sometimes, you can fix your knee pain with physical therapy. Generally I think it would be ok to wear minimalist shoes in a case like yours, but of course see how it feels. You can try walking barefoot around your house for a certain amount of time and see how it feels. Walking in them should be fine. Just gradually transition into it over time by spending more and more time walking in the minimalist shoes. To run in minimalist shoes, you'd need to adopt a forefoot/midfoot striking rather than heel striking since there's not a lot of heel cushion. But to successfully run like that requires that you build a lot of strength in your calves. Maybe I'll make a video about these topics in the future! Hope this helps!

[@reginaalear]

@@thedurablebody thank you for the reply. A video about that would be great!

[@eggrollsoup]

@@reginaalear forefootstriking will reduce pressure on the knees

[@todallard8791]

I have run over 3,000 miles in the xero prio shoes you have there. For those who love your thick shoes know this Bill Bowerman the man who invented the waffle soles making the first Nike quit the business because he saw no benefit to the runner's wearing the shoes, injuries did not decrease at all.

[@thedurablebody]

Hey Todd! Wow that's pretty interesting! Also 3000 miles is no joke

[@rdverse1]

Hey are you there on Strava?

[@thedurablebody]

Hey devesh! No I’m not. What’s strava?

[@bricemenaugh4828]

Nope... been doing this for years and now at 45 I still feel great. Barefoot shoes are the way to go.

[@KBradAdams]

Can xero shoes cause your arches to hurt in your feet? I bought a pair 2 weeks ago I only walk no running last night was awakened to arch pain. I think it has to be from the xero shoes, what are your thoughts?

[@thedurablebody]

Hey Brad! In general all barefoot shoes will not have any arch support unlike the regular shoes we’re used to. Since we don’t have that arch support, our ankle and feet muscles have to “support” our arch instead. So we need to train those muscles but also gradually expose our feet to this challenge. It’s kind of like working out. You have gradually work up to it. I made a couple of videos that go into more depth on this and I think it would help you!: How to PROPERLY Walk in Barefoot Shoes | 3 Tips from a PT kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4G7XqNoha5oqck 4 BEST Plantar Fasciitis Exercises to Fix Heel Pain NOW kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4aXlqV3eN1-nbc

[@KBradAdams]

@@thedurablebody I have worn the Five Finger shoes with no issues. I can only walk since I had a failed back fusion, so I don' t run at all just walk and it's just strange since I bought the xero shoes my arches started hurting. Do you think its because I am wearing regular tennis shoes to work with arch supports and going back and forth could be causing the pain?

[@thedurablebody]

@@KBradAdams It's possible that could be the case. I haven't looked at a five finger shoe up close, but maybe it provides a little arch support? Or have you done more walking than usual?

[@KBradAdams]

@@thedurablebody I think the Five Finger feels more like your actual foot so there is a sort of arch in the sole of the shoe not sure how much support it provides. I don't feel like I was walking any more than normal.

[@thedurablebody]

@@KBradAdams It's possible your feet just were used to the five finger shoe, and fully switching over to xero shoes for a long walk was just too much too soon. It'll probably take a gradual transition into it.

[@s.m.painter8808]

What is the material.of the shoes?

[@thedurablebody]

Hey S. M. Painter! I'm not sure... Maybe their websites have some info on it

[@donnawallan8383]

Are the Aptos machine washable?

[@thedurablebody]

Hey Donna! I found this on their website: "To clean your Aptos, hand wash with warm water, mild soap and allow them to air dry. We do not recommend putting the Aptos in the washing machine or dryer."

[@LEXICON-DEVIL]

What would you suggest for overweight folks?

[@thedurablebody]

Hey! The more weight someone carries, the stronger their muscles have to be to support their joints. I would suggest some foot/ankle strengthening and stretching and a longer, gradual transition into barefoot shoes. Check out my video on how to walk in barefoot shoes too. It'll give some helpful tips: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4G7XqNoha5oqck Hope it helps!

[@Geppypinoy]

I started taking my insoles out of my shoes and it feels so good

[@thedurablebody]

Apparently we have the most sensory nerves in our face, hands, and feet. So it makes sense that getting close to being barefoot feels so natural!

[@noname-bt9ky]

@@thedurablebody Weren’t there most sensory nerves in our feet?

[@thedurablebody]

@@noname-bt9ky I think it’s something like 7000 nerve endings in each foot !

[@majestic_irrelevance]

Are chacos good for your feet then?

[@thedurablebody]

Hey Josh! Chacos are nice because they let your toes spread out, but they don't necessarily offer the same benefits as barefoot shoes because they typically have a thicker and stiffer sole. But I still wear my Chacos when it's nice outside lol. Xero Shoes actually has a few barefoot sandals you could check out too!

[@nabranestwistypuzzler7019]

But it's not the same as no shoes.

[@tedgoff4559]

Been wearing almost nothing but for years.

[@thedurablebody]

Ted, you’ve been ahead of the game, an OG! 😎 how do your feet feel?

[@tedgoff4559]

@@thedurablebody Old. :-) I have arthritis in at least the left big toe joint at the ball and likely other areas, so they do hurt some. But when I wear overly supportive shoes, they hurt where many people have arches. My feet are pretty flat. I was convinced barefoot was the way to go when I was the test subject in a Z Health class. The class was taken barefooted. I came in off the eliptical in my NB cross trainers. The instructor had my do a standing leg curl with her as the weight with the shoes on. Nearly strained a hammy and barely budged the instructor. Took off the shoes, took about a half dozen steps and did the curl again, same leg. Lifted the instructor off the floor. Been a barefooter ever since.

[@thedurablebody]

Whoa 😳 crazy story! Glad she got you on barefoot shoes!

[@chrisalex001]

Any podiatrist would disagree with key elements presented here, particularly the notion that shoes that can be folded and twisted into nothingness is good. Shoes need to have rigidity in the back of the foot, the heel, and the middle. Only the front should be flexible. There's a reason why only a handful of companies are approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association. Stop listening to these random people who don't factor in things like footing shock absorption, which varies from person to person, and many more things.

[@edwigcarol4888]

What is missing here, i should like to add, as a woman who wanted first elegant shoes: - i have become painful aware of an impairment by my feet in Yoga! I felt that my feet were weak und unstable. I couldn't go on the tips on my toes up and down, up and down. I was a bit ashamed. Forget all wonderfull asanas, balanced on one foot. First awareness.. - dancing !!! It requests Contact to the ground! Here I got an emotional motivation to get back healthy feet, functional ones. - later observing young women, i noticed how bad shoes are ruining the beauty of a gait, the whole body gets stuck, heavy no matter your figure, awkward:. Compared with the gait of a cat ? Free healthy feet is joy and beauty. Negative impact: financial. All your shoes must be replaced. I did. I was lucky to have ever walked barefoot home. So the harm done was not so great and easier to fix.

[@thedurablebody]

All great points! I’m glad you were able to switch over to barefoot shoes and fix those problems!

[@bryanbarrera1561]

The problem I have with this minimalist shoes is that they are overly expensive. The zero shoes is $115 and the vivo are like $150

[@thedurablebody]

Hey Bryan! The nice thing about Xero shoes is it seems like they have a sale every season. There's a Spring sale right now, 20% off the new styles: xeroshoes.com/go/knunez/697b6468

[@nxel2]

You're right. They're way too expensive

[@timgallegos4]

I love the shoes and I am in a wheelchair

[@thedurablebody]

Hey Tim! I appreciate the support!

[@HimynameisJermHicks]

So what barefoot shoe company paid you to make this video?

[@thedurablebody]

Hey Jeremy! Haha I wasn’t sponsored or paid to make this video. But I did choose to make this video and become an affiliate because I like the benefits of barefoot shoes and like these companies’ shoes

[@gaylecheung3087]

Plantar fasciitis and going to be 59 on March 2022, I don’t live in the city are usually high hills I can walk from your real always down to the Saint Lawrence market here in Toronto don’t know how many miles that is… What is your name orthopaedic insoles art support etc. etc. when you’re younger maybe OK because one I’m using sewing machine I have to go barefoot and if I knew how to drive, lol

[@elenikiroy]

What??

[@HexenStar]

I remain ultra skeptical and wouldn't risk wearing those. Had some very bad experiences with taekwondo shoes in my twenties, and that was without any redundant body weight, at excellent physical condition and young. Still hurt a lot. Now 25 years fast forward, and i'd never trade my Brooks Ghost for these, especially since now i weigh more, am over twice the age and have knee issues. Walking without sufficient cushion just feels like walking on nails. Had been so from young age. (although running in normal running shoes was always fine, and it still is). So perhaps this cookie cutter is not the same for everyone.

[@thedurablebody]

Hey HexenStar! I agree that cookie cutter approaches are not always effective. But there are real benefits to having stronger feet and ankle muscles, better balance, and more toe room. For some people, they’ll do really well. But I’m sure for others, they may need a longer transition period, or maybe address the underlying causes of their foot pain before fully switching over.

[@HexenStar]

@@thedurablebody Undeniably, there are important benefits to having stronger feet / ankle muscles & better balance. Absolutely. Yet the road to achieve these, - is through exercise only. Exercise based on education and per-person movement analysis, multiplied by creativity, ingenuity and the actual willingness to genuinely help. So I'll stick to my guns and choose to leave the fleeting trends of the moment - to those who make it a priority in life chasing after contemporary fads.

[@thedurablebody]

@@HexenStar meant no offense. As a physical therapist, I’m a big supporter of exercise. Ankle and foot exercises are definitely important, especially if one has some sort of foot or ankle pain. But for the reasons I mentioned in the video, I’ll stick with this particular contemporary fad 😆

[@HexenStar]

@@thedurablebody Fair enough.

[@elenikiroy]

@@HexenStar Plenty of contemporary fads in 'normal' footwear too. In fact the underfoot cushioning you find in leisure and dress footwear is really only fairly recent.

[@gaylecheung3087]

We’re not a hunter gatherers anymore we’re in the 21st-century we’re going to Mars and back to the moon the Darkside

[@elenikiroy]

What???

[@alfedtron9043]

why don't you say it is better waking shoe and leave out talking about running

[@thedurablebody]

Hey alfed, I definitely think they're good for walking. I don't do too much running personally, but there are barefoot shoes meant for running, and people who really like to wear them when they run!

[@dextermeth]

I have a dilemma where my feet are terrible and I have a permanent low back injury. I wear cushioned running shoes to keep the back from hurting which then makes my feet hurt. I switch to my lems and after about 2 days the feet are fine but the back bugs me again. I’ve never figured out a balance. Good thing I like shoes, I guess?

[@thedurablebody]

That is quite the pickle! Maybe some light core strengthening/physical therapy might help your back out? That way, hopefully you won’t have to choose between them!