Don't Transition to Minimalist/Barefoot Shoes Until You Watch This (Hip Flexor Problems)

[@Trust-in-Balance]

Quick version: Wear arch & heel supported shoes on flat ground and minimalist shoes on uneven ground

[@palominopm2593]

Thanks, I don't speak English and it's really hard for me to understand the videos.

[@timotimorrison3448]

Yeah this guy is terrible at making his point across. I just watched because I needed the info.

[@GoodGrief10]

Thanks for that!

[@Haifa-g8c]

Thanks! I watched the whole video and was confused about what I should do.

[@JakeLeary]

There’s a lot of misinformation in this video. Most people walk around with a lazy gait and land on their heel fairly hard, instead of using the leg muscles as suspension to walk more softly (as people naturally tend to do when walking barefoot). Minimal shoes feel like a lot of work for the calves at first because people suddenly notice that they’re slamming their heel hard, and use the calves more to soften the landing. This actually reduces impact to the hips because the leg muscles are capable of much more suspension than even the thickest padded shoes. You say that walking should use the least amount of muscular effort possible-this is a recipe for overloading the joints. Use the muscles as suspension, protect the joints. It’s mostly bone from heel to knee, if you don’t use your calves as suspension, the calf muscles will get weaker and more impact to the knee joint. I disagree that barefoot shoes contribute to hip flexor tightness. Having a zero drop shoe makes it easier for me to stretch my hip flexor with each step. Walking often is the best way to counteract the obvious cause of hip flexor tightness in most people- sitting down all day. One thing we agree on is that natural, uneven surfaces are better for developing ankle mobility. If we are walking around on unnaturally flat surfaces, meaning the problem is that we underuse our pronating/supinating muscles, why would we make this problem even worse by wearing a shoe that stabilizes the ankle? The foot can pronate and supinate much more in a barefoot shoe. It seems that you have done a ton of mental gymnastics to deny the obvious truths that barefoot shoes, compared to normal shoes: 1. allow for more sensory input through the bottom of the foot 2. allow the foot and ankle to move more freely 3. strengthen the foot and leg muscles more for any given activity 4. encourage natural gait and movement patterns, reducing impact to the knee, hip, spine 5. improve blood flow through the plantar fascia I’m not saying that nobody’s ever had a bad experience with barefoot shoes. But this is often due to trying to transition too quickly or retaining old (bad) habits such as hard heel striking, not “because humans are asymmetrical”

[@Seby-biketrial]

i like your detailed reply, i totally agree. i use barefoot shoes a lot.

[@josedgwick9595]

I've been in barefoot shoes for a decade, and have every symptom described in these videos, it's uncanny. I've been a firm believer in barefoot shoes - after all, it makes sense. But this makes more sense. I'll continue going barefoot walking my dog twice a day, and search for a wide toe box with an arch for indoors. My posture declines so quickly in the house, pain ensues. My partner will be delighted to not hear my whinging about the wooden floors and running around on tip toes with a hiked hip after 30 seconds on the flat. The neural adjustment is so quick. Don't let your ego and attachment to beliefs stand in the way. You may not have these issues in barefoot shoes and that's awesome. My body is extremely sensitive to its environment - it immediately adapts. Perhaps you are not hypermobile. My ligaments are loose so it makes perfect sense that muscles tighten even more when the brain can't figure out where the body should be in space. This is an excellent video integrating proprioception, biomechanics and the senses. Thanks, Neal, for so brilliantly explaining what I mightn't have gotten past as a simple intuition. Delighted and ready to have found your videos.

[@NaZaRK3]

​@@josedgwick9595I did an abrupt transition to barefoot shoes on flat ground that ive used for at least an hour daily for about 2 months. This all contributed to making these patterns worse and tightened me up further and further. In fact it was so bad i had to look up what the possible causes could be , which led me to discovering Neils KZbin channel

[@laylahope.]

@@NaZaRK3 transition slowly. it took me years.

[@cupes2231]

Neal never advocated a shoe for stability. He referred to the sensory input which lacks in barefoot shoes. Stability = constraint.

[@aeromender]

This video describes me to a T! I’m anterior pelvic tilt, left foot flat arch, posture- rear end and gut sticking out, tight IT bands, very small inactivated glutes, calves and hamstrings sore as hell after a 5K run, (and some sciatica to boot). It’s amazing that my girlfriend pointed these things out to me and shortly after I find your videos on the internet. Love you both ❤

[@neuromancer845]

This makes sense. I recently started running/walking with minimalist shoes, but I absolutely hate them on the sidewalk/pavement (flat ground), but I absolutely loved them running along a dirt trail (uneven ground).

[@vacafuega]

This video is actually only gonna help a small section of people. The advice really only makes sense if you assume that "people who have spent almost no time barefoot growing up" is the absolute standard human being and no others exist who are worth mentioning. People who grew up walking barefoot heelstrike, of course they do. People who have been so habituated to zero haptic feedback from their heel by extreme cushioning that they tiptoe to try and keep a similar experience when transitioning are not a big enough group to generalise to every one of your watchers. The idea that barefoot shoes and flat floors lead to avoiding heelstrike is wildly reductivist and says a lot more about what kind of people tend to walk into your practice than the broader picture of humans and minimal shoes. On a final note, as someone who grew up rurally wearing shoes as little as possible, contrary to what you're saying, there are many flat surfaces in nature. Any path walked often enough will turn to beaten earth, which is unrelentingly flat. The trail you showed is just that, a trail, not a path. Even deer and badger trails are flat in many biomes, it all depends on the type of vegetation, soil, and toprock. And when you're barefoot in nature, you naturally am to out your foot on the flattest, hardest bit, cause getting mud or grass in between your toes isn't very nice, and rocks and branches hurt and slow you down - not to mention thorns. There are so many more surfaces out there than you're aware of. Books and professional experience are fantastic but they have their limits. I'd love to see you do a video where you talk to some knowledgeable people in the barefoot community about your conceptions and you compare notes. They could learn a lot from you and despite what you seem to think, you could stand to learn a lot from them too!

[@malikreativci4236]

Interesting point of view. I seek everything natural and have to barefoot shoes, pri shoes are nothing alike and it seemed stupid to buy them. After I did buy bola shoes as recommended my issues are almost gone. Can't force barefoot into my life 😅

[@karlmarx3471]

Fantastic comment. I’ve thought the same for a while and i’m in complete agreement with you.

[@alejandraeguiza8530]

100% agreed. Feel that it's important for one get pampered with experts information BUT always take into consideration background, current living style and medical conditions before deciding what works for you😊

[@wadap0]

If we naturally oriented to the right, even visually, how does that affect people who have impairment to their right visual field?

[@averagejoe3312]

I'd also like to add that he's talking all this crap in the big city spectrum, but not talking about the difference amount of steps you take to get into buildings and go up for hospital use. The more you take for walking on and off curves. The unlevel yards and parks people walk in. I do know what he means by walking around indoors all the time on level surfaces, but the minute you step outside you realize it's totally not a level place. And another thing he's not adding is that a good stretching routine will keep you loose. He's just worried that barefoot shoes will lose him a lot of money.

[@pabloperezgarcia8142]

11 years ago I had a back procedure. I also had my right hip operated a few months prior, although that procedure did not solve any problems. When I was well enough to walk, swim and ride a bike, a decided to change my running style to minimalist shoes and barefoot running. It is not the shoes that are important, but the way your feet start contact with the ground. It took me around a year to run comfortably with minimalist shoes and without shoes (just sometimes). Quite a few times I had to return home from 4/5 km away just walking because my tendons did not allow me to run more. But the effort paid off. Indeed. Nowadays I am able to run 10k or longer and I always use minimalist shoes. The way the foot takes initial contact with the ground, with the front part making contact firstly, is basic to avoid your hips (socket and etc) to receive that impact repeatedly.

[@NealHallinan]

Nicely done. As I mentioned, this video only pertained to walking rather than running bc most people will forefoot strike when running. Walking is not a forefoot striking activity (at least it shouldn’t be).

[@pabloperezgarcia8142]

@@NealHallinan Agree on walking. Disagree on forefoot running, as modern shoes force people to make first contact with their heels, which is terrible for their hips and pelvis. Much less than 50% of the runners run with their front part of the feet. Runners with less experience or power or technique or just strength or stamina make contract with their heels first.

[@jessicasanchez2997]

Hello, where did you purchase your minimalist shoes?

[@lafest1637]

Cool (long) video, I have many questions. Of course, I understand if you don't have time to get to all of them but I appreciate even brief responses. First, as directly pertains to the topic of this video: 1. You briefly touched on the importance of pushing down with the big toe. Is that possible in traditional shoes? (11:35) 2. You say that the calves tensing up for new minimalist shoe wearers may not be a good thing, and that walking should really feel like hardly anything. But if the feeling doesn't persist, could it be that it just reflects the impacts of a transitional phase? (20:45) Also, if this causes the pelvis to tilt forward, does correcting with tension only lead to more and more tension? (15:30) 3. Most traditional shoes have elevated heels. Won't that scramble your sensory feedback somewhat? 4. You say that minimalist shoes cause loss of ground sense, because your heel doesn't sink into anything. But perceptually it feels like an information channel has newly opened up, at least it did to me. Why would there be such an incongruence between perception and reality? (18:10) And some more general questions: 1. You mention frequently that asymmetry is perfectly natural. But isn't asymmetry still one of the main things you try to correct in your profession? How much asymmetry is acceptable? 2. Isn't how much your brain senses stuff variable and dependent on situation? 3. You drew a cycle that linked sense to processing to action to sense and so on. Why do you centre on the brain, the processing? There is a famous experiment in which the head of a cat was severed and it kept walking for several minutes... 4. You mentioned that many of your minimalist shoe wearing patients had problems... do you get many patients without problems? Hope you find the time to respond to some of these. Cheers

[@michalbombara33]

Wow, great questions

[@LukeSkytalk]

You are a legend! So much interconnected information laid out in an understandable and approachable format. I really appreciate what you do. Thank you.

[@NealHallinan]

You're quite welcome. I'm glad it's helpful.

[@nancyritland9116]

very thankfully, walking barefoot in the house, and wearing totally flat shoes my feet can spread out in has helped me TREMENDOUSLY

[@wideopenthrottl]

They sell wide toe box shoes with heel support. Altras, Crocs, etc.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

Also Vivobarefoot, Topo Athletic, and Xero shoes. There are a few sandal companies that allow toe splay.

[@cupes2231]

The issue is not support . It is sensory input. Important not to confuse the 2 I would say.

[@MichaelSheaAudio]

I'm a bit confused. Wearing minimal footwear is not the same as wearing "regular shoes". We're taking people who have spent their entire life in regular shoes who have developed habits, good or bad, to suit those shoes. Or perhaps the habits they developed were never addressed mechanically, but instead aided by a product. I overpronate, and I thought I had flat feet. If I went to a podiatrist, would they suggest that I change how I stand, walk, and run, or would they sell me orthotics? Supportive footwear is great, you put it on and your pain goes away. Before I started wearing Asics stability shoes about 10 years ago, I'd go home from my retail job and my ankles would hurt so much that I could barely walk. Then with the Asics shoes, I could work all day with minimal issues. The problem is, once you take off the shoes, all of your problems still remain. You are bound to that support to be pain free. I started wearing barefoot shoes almost 4 months ago, but I didn't just put them on and go, because I knew that without the support, my ankles would start to hurt again. So I did a little digging, and changed everything mechanically. My feet were pointed outward when I stood still, so I pointed my feet forward. All of my weight was on the inside of my feet, so I shifted it to the outside of my feet, and wouldn't you know it, I have arches in my feet. The photo you showed of the gentleman's feet that were asymmetrical, his left foot was pointed outward, which is going to flatten out his arch. If he just pointed his left foot forward and balanced himself now that his feet are matching, they would have looked the same. I've worked on fixing the position of my hips, I've switched to a midfoot strike with shorter steps, etc. I just started a new retail job, so I'm back on my feet all day. I was a bit nervous that my feet wouldn't be ready to take the abuse yet, so I got some Lems shoes that have a little bit more than my other shoes. We're still only dealing with about 10mm under my feet. I took the inserts out because I was having a hard time feeling the pedals in my car. When you're used to being able to use only your big toe to push the pedals, anything extra feels like too much. But anyways, back on my feet all day on hard floors with no support from someone who has overpronated their whole life. I'm not finding good form with no support much different from bad form with support. When I get home, I can take off my shoes and still run around the house, up and down the stairs, and my feet are a bit sore, naturally, but they're fine. Other things I've noticed is that my achilles tendons aren't tight anymore, my balance is improving, I can run faster and easier with a forefoot/ midfoot strike in minimal shoes than I ever could with a heel strike in supportive shoes, it goes on. Basically, what I'm getting at with all this, is to question whether the people who have begun wearing minimalist shoes have done the work to correct their gait and their posture, or if they're carrying over the same habits from decades of harmful footwear. It would be similar to giving someone a freeweight bench press, and just telling them to start lifting. You come back to them a month later and their form is terrible, they injured their wrist, and they look no better physically than they did before. Instead of teaching them proper form so they don't hurt themselves and they actually get good results, you move them into a guided bench press so they don't have to worry about balancing the bar, they can just lift. Their form will still be terrible, and they won't be getting the full benefit of a bench press because all of their muscles aren't being utilized. So this person gets really comfortable with the guided bench press, and maybe they can lift 150lbs no problem. Once you put them on a freeweight bench press with the same weight, they'll drop it and possibly hurt themselves because of the issues mentioned above. To get the full benefits of minimal footwear, you need to put in the work to make sure you're moving properly, you can't rely on the shoes to fix your problems.

[@hownatureheals3947]

Thank you, Neal, for the profound and insightful wisdom! I always thought something wasn't right many years ago when I first used Vivo barefoot shoes on flat concrete, so I moved over to Altras. My Altras are still zero drops with a wide toe box but much more supportive; I also added some arch support. From my experience, simply moving to zero drop altras corrected my extreme inward pronation where my heel would wear out over time at a severe angle of about 30 degrees, and my back pain resolved by about 80%. I think it's the zero drop and wide-toe box that is important rather than a minimalistic sole and shoe. What's your take on the Zero drop aspect? It appeared to me that raising the heel can also negatively affect correct skeletal alignment due to my experiences. I have EDS. ! I'll never forget when my legendary dentist, Dr Amir, who specialises in jaw asymmetry, tested me at separate times with arch support and a dental appliance, and both brought my pelvis into correct alignment. Your video has helped me make complete sense of 8 years of my progression with improving my skeletal alignment!

[@dantheman1337]

I agree with you

[@shannonjust]

I did the same thing. I now wear my vivos on uneven dirt trails and altras on flat pavement.

[@jjs77777]

Going through a similar shoe situation currently now, thank you for this confirmation ! Also, who is your dentist, Dr Amir ? Have a jaw/pelvis misalignment here, as well ❤

[@NSS.Airsoft]

What dental appliance helped your pelvis?

[@davidrodgers6939]

This video and your others I’ve just started watching this morning have been really helpful for what I’ve been dealing with physically these last few years. Thanks.

[@BetterCallSauS]

Interesting commentary on a topic that is very relevant to my personal life. I really do enjoy my barefoot shoes, and wear my Merrell's and Whitin's for everything that I do. I can see that there are pros and cons to supportive or minimalist shoes, but overall I would much rather have started wearing these years ago. With proper stretching and a safe transition plan they can be a huge benefit.

[@selfemployed1338]

After a day of climbing trees and walking in nature in logging boots, high heel and steel toe, nothing sets my hips straight and feels better than walking in barefoot shoes, hard pavement doesn't hurt one bit with proper stride and rhythm. It is all about foot to ground and brain connection.

[@vincevallefuoco1082]

Hi! Do your feet look like the one in the thumbnail too?

[@gabrielleparis3532]

Neil just wanted to thank you for all your videos and for responding to my questions. You have made PRI, which seems very complex, understandable and approachable. I am making great progress with my local PRI person and am grateful to you for your dedication to explain and share your wisdom and personal experience with PRI. I can walk again without pain, due in large part to you. Grateful to and for you.

[@NealHallinan]

I’m happy to hear you are making progress!

[@stupidusedrnames]

Hello, brand new to you. Everything you say resonates with me and my chronic neck, back, head shaking issues BUT I have lost so many teeth. All my molars got pulled when I was 12. Braces plus many from bad health. I HAD L4L5 replaced with pig bones. TITANIAM PLATES, rods and screws. Is it too late for me to fix stuff?thank you

[@functionalmovementcoaching9223]

I totally resonate and agree with what you are saying. In my opinion, the right side has to do with "self". Simply put, putting ourselves first or relying on our own strengths to navigate through life. This can lead to worry, anxiety, and fear which all can contribute to being too much on the right side. Its a big topic but I really appreciate how you address the whole mind and body, Neal.

[@lzz9320]

Great video ! I liked how you took many talking points you used to have separate videos for and combined them into one video while still having the focus on the main topic, minimalist shoes. This really answers why things are the way they are, which is really important for understanding and then execution

[@NealHallinan]

I'm glad you appreciated it 👍

[@JAB-wq5wd]

Hi, new subscriber here. I'm glad that I clicked before I bought minimalist shoes again. I didn't want to go back to getting a second pair to 'fix' my problems with feet from working in safety toe boots (steel toe and composite) for years. Military boots and now working in the large power plant where I'm walking most of my 12 hours shifts.

[@BluegillGreg]

Thank you. I'm lucky because I grew up prowling the swamps around the Rahway River and we developed the ability to keep our cheap canvas sneakers dry (usually) by being very visually oriented to the environment placing every step. Throw in lots of time above ground in trees, wading in muddy water while feeling for bottom, lots of barefoot play, excellent coaching on stride for sprinting, middle distance and long distance running, etc. It's a good foundation. I also read an article 50 years ago in Field and Stream Magazine on choosing shoes (snug in the back, room to wiggle the toes in front) that's been helpful ever since. For me a variety of shoes and a variety of strides is a good way to go. Don't neglect hip flexor training, both strengthening and lengthening. That'll minimize tightness and build awareness.

[@fyevalentine7670]

I honestly don’t know where to start I found you recently and it’s so much info regardless I’m grateful

[@VladimirMilovanov-ty4kh]

it's good to find more than one opinion :)! Cheers! Jesus saves!

[@sandyyy93]

this is so mind blowing, thank you so much Neal. I transitioned to barefoot shoes 3-4 years ago and at first it helped correct a forming bunion on my right foot and helped my balance immensely. But over the years, I noticed my vivos wore away quickly at the bottom of my heels and my diaphragm feels tighter than ever before. This was strange to me, as I have additionally switched over to yoga for exercise, and used to train in powerlifting and didnt feel anywhere near as locked up. I had my tongue tie released as I thought it was the cause of my tight diaphragm, didn't even think my barefoot shoes could be a contributing factor!

[@-technodream-]

I 53 & been barefoot lifestyle for 6 years,I’m also yogi & calisthenics,after discovering in June that I’m ‘right torsion’ I’ve made incredible progress in the shoulder area & it’s going well getting the rib flare down,but I’m not seeing any progress in areas down below & ive a feeling next time I see my therapist,I’m gonna have to put the barefoot shoes to one side & look at a proper heel support & arch,I 100% get where your coming from,as I completely relate to the higher arch on the right & makes sense about not sensing the ground properly,over the last month or so,I have experimented with a bit of folded up felt under the arch & things do feel different,but obviously I have no clue/experience with this,so can’t wait to get back to the therapist & discuss the next phase of unravelling this nightmare ‘right torsion’ x

[@-technodream-]

Forgot to mention,I’ve given up yoga & dialled back my calisthenics & weights.i only practice stuff that doesn’t put me in extension & I only do single limb training now & just with the basics of keeping out of extension,is helping loads x

[@NealHallinan]

@@-technodream- As I know from my own personal experience, torsions are really difficult. They effectively take away your “ground sense”. A change of shoes can certainly make a difference, but the primary driver is coming from the cranium and even changing shoes may not make a huge difference. On the other hand, the cranium may not be able to unlock fully without appropriate shoes. So you never know until you try. Good luck!

[@kasiagalicamadetomove]

Right torsion here too! it's a journey :) be patient but also you can have fun, I recommend exploring Salsa dancing, boxing, hula hooping, climbing :)

[@toscadonna]

My spine from the thoracic to C1 are actually tilted to the left due to an accident, but I’ve still been having trouble with my right hip, right hip flexor, and inability to breathe especially on the right side of my diaphragm. I started marching like you said to do in another video and calling cadence for myself like in the Army, and so much of this pain went away. So thank you.

[@CharlotteFairchild]

Your left? Your left right left?

[@cupes2231]

Excellent video. You just explained literally 90 percent that is wrong with me in a single video and it all makes sense. I thought i was messed up as everything was contrary to what i would expect,but the compensatory pattern explains it all. Thanks a million.

[@jangrajewski1017]

I regret not watching your videos before I bought my 4th pair of minimal shoes. Through whole year I was trying to figure out my left hip pain, until I met your Channel. 2 weeks after transition into my old shoes hip pain was gone!

[@selfemployed1338]

You didn't learn how to walk properly. I love being barefoot, but it took time and effort to learn the proper stride.

[@flowmovementtherapy2096]

This is an excellent explanation of the junction of the methods that I use; Anatomy in Motion (AiM) and PRI. Now I understand the value of L heel, R arch from a PRI perspective and why giving the foot (brain) new inputs via the various wedging positions we give in AiM restore the brain's sense of the ground. I've commented for years about the problems with flat level floors for our brains and why the brain predicting uniform experiences from those floor conditions means the brain puts very little stock in what our feet are doing. This video is also an excellent explanation for all the barefoot enthusiast newbies who get excited about barefoot shoes solving all their problems and then getting myriad new problems. The problem wasn't your shoes. The problem is your environment and lack of long term variety of inputs for your brain layered on our natural asymmetry. Resolve those issues first and then your brain can accept whatever shoes you wish to wear, barefoot or 'traditional'.

[@NealHallinan]

Great comment. Thank you. People think the barefoot shoes are helping, but they are often just transferring the tension elsewhere (usually the neck)

[@QarleyQuark]

Learning that the diaphragm is NOT one single membrane of a muscle, really helped me solve the riddle of my pain at my ribs. Thanks for sharing!

[@ojajebie]

Tell us more

[@healthy-natural-10]

I am using Hykes Pinnacle barefoot shoes, best shoes I have ever owned and will never go back to restricted regular shoes. My feet are so much stronger and love the feeling once you get used to them.

[@justinsabaj6349]

I am so glad that we're both in NJ! I'll see you in a month or so!

[@Lam-he6mj]

I started wearing barefoot shoes a couple months ago. I do a lot of walking for exercise and my work is on a flat surface. Great at first but my left hip started to be painful and sometimes I have to take ibuprofen for relief. Thanks for this video, it explains my pain. Back to my brooks. I might add I see a chiropractor every three weeks for preventive of low back pain. I had him treat my hip pain on the last two visits and he noticed my pelvis was rotated and he asked me if I was doing anything different. I told him no because I did not even think of the shoes being different.

[@NealHallinan]

Brooks are really good shoes for neuro-sensory input.

[@IntoTheMystery13]

Wow I learned a lot watching this. Thanks!

[@GoetzimRegen]

It's all about sensory Input, Safety and our past. Had a pair of shoes that had a thin front sole and thick chushy back sole. I loved the shoes but in the end, not feeling the back of the foot as much as the foot gave me an uneven feeling or an out of timing. A heel elevation gives me an overstricking and an non steady walk pattern, so the center of mass is a little before the body - so over time the body and posture have to follow and beside your left and right pattern we will get a front and back pattern too. Save walking is a solution to get better, but walking in flat and functional shoes or barefoot is a solution for the front/back pattern, more feeback from your surrounding help too. So if you have a more domiinant front/back pattern than you have mostlikely a dynamic problem which will represent itself in your static standing and sitting reperesentations. if you have right/left dominant not front/back this talk is more for you. But old age will catch us all, not training, not walking or aging will make front/back pattern more dominant with time by most people.

[@jenniferwenzel5318]

This information just blew my mind! 🤯

[@fineartlifestyling]

Neal I love how curious you and and are always perfecting your knowledge and wisdom from constant research! Brilliant man! ❤

[@NealHallinan]

Thank you!

[@BadKidLawt0n]

Just wanted to share a personal tidbit about my experience with getting out of barefoot shoes. I had been seeing a chiropractor while wearing barefoot shoes for 6 months before I got a shoe recommendation from a PRC (Postural restoration certified) DPT. After wearing my new shoes for a couple hours I went in for a chiropractic adjustment and for the first time in 6 months my chiropractor exclaimed how relaxed my spine was compared to the past 6 months of "rigidity". I was pretty blown away because I didn't expect that reaction and hadn't mentioned anything about my shoes to him. Now I understand that my brain needs proper signals from my feet in order to feel safe and relax.

[@NealHallinan]

Thanks for that tidbit! Shoes can make a huge difference for some people. Chinese medicine associates the spine with the arches of the foot (I saw it in a book years ago, and I think I'm remembering correctly). I always found that fascinating because if you can't pronate (arch sense) you'll stay extended through the spine.

[@DKRYMMA]

So does the type of shoe matter or could a pair of hasketball shoes work

[@BadKidLawt0n]

Thanks for your work in the field of postural restoration. I found your videos by an anonymous online recommendation and began seeing a PRI provider after watching your videos. It has since then made a world of difference in my life. @@NealHallinan

[@alejandraeguiza8530]

What brand of shoes you bought?❤

[@lemonroe9680]

very curious what the shoe/brand was that was recommended by the PRC?

[@sarawatts9593]

Wow I transitioned to barefoot over 4 years ago, after breaking my toe and dislocating my ankle, I couldn’t stand the pressure of shoes on the area at that time and looked for wider options, which eventually led me to the barefoot movement. I’m already prone to tight hip flexors, but I noticed in photos recently my upper body is tilted forward and I’ve had left SI joint pain for some time now. My mobility is pretty good, but again I notice loss of flexibility in the mid back, exactly as you described. Now I’m in a quandary because when I put normal running shoes on, my feet and arch ache and fatigue fast. Lots to think on for me !!! thanks for sharing this, it was a bit of a lightbulb moment for me.

[@NealHallinan]

From lots of experience doing this, left SI joint pain is due to an unstable left hip which by definition will leave you with poor "left heel recognition" since your weight will be shifted too far forward on your left side. People will unconsciously lock out their left knee to stabilize things, but that just overactivates their hip flexors and they get stuck in this vicious cycle of instability and tension.

[@tonyrabone4668]

Maybe an idea to compromise might be a wide toe box zero drop or lower drop running shoe like Inov8. I'm trying that and resting the minimalist shoes for a while except when running in the woods. Just an idea.

[@dustinmadsen9154]

Neal, thank you so much for the videos you have put out. The countless hours of research that had to go in. I have been struggling with left AIC right bc for a very long time now. I went to the PRI website and found a certified physical therapist in my area because of your videos and personal stories. I am now getting the help I need to be a properly functioning human lol And not have to worry about pain. It felt totally legit going to my first appointment with my therapist and am now I’m literally re- teaching myself to do normal stuff, ie. walking breathing chewing. I had given up on the thought of getting rid of my back pain and believe it was some kind of disorder of my physiology. But my hopes and moral are restored thanks to you sir. I tip my hat. & please do not stop what you are doing lol

[@NealHallinan]

That’s an amazing comment. I’m very happy for you! Just trust the process, and beyond normal PRI techniques, I’d suggest you try some things I’ve talked about in regards to “artistic expression”: music, dance, acting etc…anything where you stop being “you” for a little while.

[@gloria6396]

THIS IS AMAZINGLY NEW EVERYTHING U SAY MAKES ME THINK................... OFF COURSE THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES

[@NealHallinan]

You are quite welcome.

[@petersommer5164]

Respect to you Neal who empirically made his way to this knowledge. Learning that it's about sensory deprivation been a big game changer. Can you give some information regarding hand balms ? Got the feeling if throttle grips on motor bikes or computer mouses were on the left, it would be more upper back friendly.

[@juanajuana4404]

I have been experiencing right hip pain. I’ve done quite a few interventions from diet, exercise, barefoot shoes, everything. Everything until I watched this video. I do walk barefoot at home or very flat house shoes. I have a very high instep and arch, and I noticed a small pronation with my left foot. I put an arch support band on my right foot and immediately noticed the weight shifting with my right foot. The right hip pain is gone. Right away. The first day I noticed different sensations in my knees as if they were adjusting as well. Today I have mostly neutralized sensation as my posture has realigned. Sleep had gotten quite uncomfortable as I’d often wake due to achy hip. It’s been just a few days and I’ve been sleeping great and walking pain free!! Thank you!!

[@osmosisomni2248]

appreciate how well you explain things

[@matriarchalprayerproject]

thank you this was really helpful, I have been wearing barefoot running shoes for 10 years and love them but recently I was in pain and having trouble. This made me once again mindful that I need to run on dirt paths, trails and grass not concrete for the benefits and if I run on concrete paths I will be in pain. I forgot to apply this rule and was wondering why my barefoot running shoes stopped working!

[@NealHallinan]

It's definitely better to run/walk on uneven ground when given the chance.

[@emilgrecescu7949]

Thank you very much for your explanations!!! They helped me.

[@TheTibor]

Your videos are revolutionizing my understanding of body health.

[@Lisarominger]

This helps a little, too difficult for me to understand. Only way for it to help me would to be in person like his model. Thank you for the information

[@anastasiaseltzer800]

Hi Neal, you have very very interesting videos. I’ve had knee pain for some time and have turned to research and Chinese medicine for assistance since going to a PT doesn’t seem to help me much. I am a dancer so am moving my body a lot, but have been having issues with pain around my knee cap for the past two years. I’ve had an MRI and X ray and everything appears fine. It gets worse in heels and sometimes when barefoot, which has me believe it could be an alignment thing. Weirdly enough switching to barefoot shoes and use of the mobo balance board has actually seemed to help quite a bit. One thing to note is I have flat feet and a bunion on my right foot, which I have a feeling may contribute. This is my right knee I’m talking about and in general my right side tends to have more issues. I also feel jaw tension often on my right side. In Chinese medicine they talk about the right and left being the masc/feminine sides or yin/Yang sides, so I’ve been thinking about that and how the pain could potentially be related to my way of being. But I love what you have to say and am excited to learn more about PRI. I’m wondering if you have any input on what could possible be creating this pain? Thank you 🙏

[@catalincioponea]

I have a more supinated left foot and a more pronated right foot (opposite to the video). My face is not symmetrical left side is way better than the right side. Right molars barely touch each other. I think my body is turned to the right side with the weight leaning on the left foot. Also my left rib cage is pressed on the inside (don't know the medical term).

[@NealHallinan]

When the right foot is more pronated, it generally means something above the torso is influencing it. The observation you made about your right molars could be cause of the atypical foot pattern.

[@catalincioponea]

@@NealHallinan So fixing my molars could fix the problem?

[@Tiborqiusz]

Bullshit. I transitioned to barefoot shoes, and it was the best decision i have ever made. Better posture, more flexibility, better stability, stronger legs. I got rid of all my other type of shoes, and i have no intention of ever going back. The only reason people complain of having problems after wearing barefoot shoes, because their body is not adjusted properly to them. Those problems will eventually go away, as soon as the spine, hips, legs and feet get used to the shoes.

[@NealHallinan]

I’m happy that worked for you. The people I help who come in with barefoot/minimalist shoes have been wearing them for a long time. Perhaps they can go back to them after they become stable again. But they need to change in the beginning. Not everyone experiences the same things. Different injury histories, different arch heights, different types of bodies etc..

[@Tiborqiusz]

@@NealHallinan I agree. I apologize, I meant no disrespect. Just that for me at least, when I have transitioned to barefoot shoes, I had pretty much felt the same liberating feeling like when I was a child walking barefoot. So yes, it does work for me. Good video though and certainly a lot of useful information.

[@chiyogawellness2787]

Thank you for this video. I'm learning so much from your channel. I have a pair of minimalist shoe and notice how they tense up my calves and feet more. Now, I know why and will try them on the natural ground instead!

[@NealHallinan]

I'm glad it made sense to you.

[@JAB-wq5wd]

@ 9:54 to 10:18 I felt that constantly and it's exactly why it is hard recovering from an injury from years ago

[@FlyingFun.]

Very very intereting thanks. Im a couple if weeks into minimalist shoes, i have high arches ( left is higher than right ). Definitely hate fkat hard ground but everything else is much much better, and im slowly getting the hang of controlling the flat surface walking, putting heel down very smoothly and controlling the foot is key. The rest of my body is very much like you say , uneven as hell and im really working on the things you mention. Im very torn about the arch support though, might need to just add some light arch support for the sensory feed back that you mention. Most of the time i walk on the grass next the the path which is uneven and feel very good under my feet and i do not need any arch support there though .. Btw i wear normal trainers too till i get property tuned to barefoot, but i really feel the raised heel and small toe box affecting my foot posture and throwing everything out making me feel weary quickly and hurting all over my body, i dont get that with the barefoot, just have to walk slower which drives my wife and daughter mad who now wont walk with me ...😂

[@dysonadams]

This was me. Thought I was doing the right thing going minimalist shoes and barefoot by being “natural”. Never thought about how it’s not historically normal to be minimalist on flag ground with little input on whole foot. Feet started cramping at night but never made the connection. There were other factors I was dealing with in my life but I think I was definitely stuck in the pelvic tilt pattern. One year later my feet were constantly in pain. Thought this was good cause I was “working them out” and “making them stronger.” I was wrong. Thought process clouded by pride. Just switched over to some brooks adrenaline 23s and I can feel my feet when I walk. I think helping

[@cynthiam1381]

Does this matter with being left dominant l handed?

[@jamesridge7982]

Okay... I have waited tables 20+ years plus added in bartending, cooking, and as a bouncer as well as fighting (kickboxing and grappling) I will tell you that barefoot shoes have 100% fixed a ton of issues i have with my feet at age 49. I have high arches and neuropathy in my toes. I can not wear any other type of shoe after 3 months of barefoot shoes, i have tried and they absolutely suck. Now keep in mind the shoes would wear before are not trash shoes, being on my feet for a living i spend a good amount on shoes. I also workout 5 days a week. Maybe because i have walked a LOT for years i normally walk heal-outside foot-balls of foot/toes. Maybe its from years of fighting? Maybe because i know how to breath i dont have some of the other problems. To sum up, i walk with intention, and i have no issues with barefoot shoes, with normal good shoes i am in constant pain

[@jamesridge7982]

To add a little idea, maybe teach your people total core exercises that will keep them more naturally in line

[@cherylvandezande4483]

Thank you for your expertise and for sharing this info with us ❣️

[@sambodyto]

Hi Neal thank you! very profound 🙏 A question - can I put heel cups inside my barefoot shoes and fix the sensory deficiency? (it's just that I really enjoy having wide toe box to splay and regular shoes do not have this option so much..) Thanks for all your content very helpful!

[@NealHallinan]

You could certainly try it, but from my experience most people will need a pair of sneakers with stable heels and insoles for arch sense before they can get neutral and then restabilize.

[@atonyjm4413]

Hey could I get a example of where to to the padding in my minimalist shoes? A picture maybe or a better explanation so I can get an idea of exactly where to place the padding.. thank you if you reply

[@lukasztrembowski3015]

I was looking to write you because I have been watching your videos for a long time and got a new perspective about the human body and brain. However, I am not a physiotherapist, a doctor or a physician and I have my difficulties to follow you. However, I find your way of thinking about the body correct and enlightening. I have therefore tried to apply something from your videos for me. First, I would like to write that I do not feel any pain. However, I see that my motor function is not correct. First, all my shoes are always worn on the outer heels first. My jaw cracks when I open it wide. I can also see that when I close it, it first bends to the left and then closes straight. I have already visited several physiotherapists because of the cracking, but none of them could really help me. They all tried to massage the muscles of the jaw. What I definitely have is hip impingement, which was diagnosed by a surgeon and orthopedist. Maybe you could recommend me certain videos of yours that will put me on the right track in correcting my motor skills. Best regards Lukasz

[@robclarke2426]

Woah. This video just blew me away. I finally know what has been going on with my body for the last 17 years. Thankyou so much. The problem is, so often where I live I am walking switching between man made flat surfaces and natural earth/grass all the time. So which shoes do I pick?

[@oatmeal3235]

I've switched to barefoot shoes a year ago and I think I've benefitted from it quite a bit. My heel pain has went away and I've learned how to be more aware of my gait. But during this time my tension and pain in other areas of the body had been getting worse, which I initially attributed to other factors. Actually this is what motivated me to search for solutions more and how I found out about PRI. Anyway, after watching this video I tested my hip flexors before and after switching to a more cushioned shoe. I was pretty amazed at how it affected me. And it didn't really require a radical change. I just switched from my usual very thin barefoot shoes, Wildlings, to a more cushioned Whitin pair from Amazon. I guess I'll be sticking to more cushioned shoes while walking on artificial surfaces from now on!

[@NealHallinan]

Great comment. I think that some people have pain go away after switching to barefoot/minimalist, but it just shifts the stress to another location. I’m glad the video was helpful.

[@hobbyless4089]

What shoes did you end up buying? I've been looking at different shoes but would like to add insoles.

[@oatmeal3235]

@@hobbyless4089 I got really used to the wide toe box, so I feel I wouldn't be able to easily switch to conventional shoes. That's why I am using my Whitin shoes. They offer different models with varying width. I have "WHITIN Men's Wide Minimalist Barefoot Sneakers". I have heard Altra and Lem's have zero drop, wide toe box models with cushioning, but I haven't checked them out. Using an insole with some other shoes should also work.

[@KW.191]

@@NealHallinanfinally, what shoes do you recommend? From Thailand 😊

[@TheGreenupTime]

Please try Xero shoes. Changed my life.

[@anthonyw6488]

Loved these videos. I have been using Vibrams toe shoes for hiking and I feel amazing and get no pain( I think I have Lower arches) . Hiking shoes have me in pain after 2 miles in the knees and hips. I also have Xero shoes which are minimalist and I tend to have issues with them more so in the beginning of use as I feel my feet struggling to find their way. Thanks for the tip on flat floors as I don't wear shoes at home and work from home and think it could be causing an issue.

[@barbarian-furu]

thank you for the video, very informative. please, talk about cases of left leg being shorter then right leg

[@janeirorodriguez5903]

A quadricep think of four pillars. Depending on which leg eg. L leg, inner hamstring the goal is to feel it elongating to it's natural tension and to allow for the other spires in the quadricep to elongate or unravel depending on present circumstances one night be experiencing. Our hip is like a relay for the brain. It is part of the controller. We don't influence from the feet up. That is how we trap air(tension). We influence from the hip via the glute to our feet...

[@patricktoth-meyers5044]

This is very accurate. Like 8 years ago I tried out minimalist shoes, high foot traffic job in a flat medical facility. At first, amazing. Not so much calves, but very pleasant sense of active glutes. Then they just seized up and died and have never worked properly again.

[@NealHallinan]

That was my experience when I first started wearing converse. Felt my toes and glutes and thought it was amazing, but it just made me tighter in the long run.

[@augurcybernaut4785]

Switched to minimalist shoes a year ago….. INSTANT plantar fasciitis. INSTANTLY. My plantar my Achilles my ankles

[@annasakhno545]

Thank you for such a deep content!

[@411Adil]

I do boxing and iam familiar with the other martial arts. I move pretty fluid I must say. Iam also a Amphetamine and hasj user (10 years). U get the taste of aging considering your joints hurt and the lack fluidity, dehydrated tissue ect. If I tell u I can run twice a week on concrete withouth having to use a embarricing foam roller or get unecessairy injurys, I know I have something figured out. With all due respect, this is what u are missing: Activating the arch nerve while putting on socks/ shoes. - I gather my legs under me, I arch and I sit down on the bench. From here I cross the right leg over the left while I imagine how the foot would have tilted sideways as if it was affected by gravity while the body is totally jelly relaxed. I then put on my toe socks. I do the same thing on left leg. After that I do the same procedeure with the shoes. I tie my shoes while I have the leg crossed over because then Iam able to "lock" the shoe while u have the feel of an arch. I wear vivoshoes without the toespring tip. I never lace them thightly and when I walk, I lift one hip, sving rightleg in front/ under senter landing with the mid outside of the foot, transitioning the weight to the whole mid foot, and finally springs out with my big toe. 3 years, still injury free, jumping rope is my arch activator. If U learn about the Holy Prrophet Muhammad (RIP). U will learn that he practiced an etchiquette: eating, giving, handshaking, putting on shoes with RIGHT first. Doing ablotuion (WC) wiping dirt, taking off left shoe first. Intresting right? I wanna thank u on behalf of the muslims for yet again proving that the ways of the Prophet (RIP) was anathomically efficient and considered the RIGHT way. Some "muslim" groups debate how the Prophet (RIP) prayed (Sunnah). But u just put the nail on the coffin on that discussion. I hope u do your own research, Then u will understand that The prophet Muhammad (RIP) lifestyle has the answers u are looking for

[@johnny5.56]

Just want to thank you for your simple content around everything, especially left zoa. Has literally over night changed my life. Thank you and please never stop with this content that conventional medicine chooses to ignore.

[@NealHallinan]

You’re welcome. I’m glad it has helped you.

[@bluewatersprite8738]

​@NealHallinan please help! How does someone with hypermobility fix the issues you discuss? There is not a PRI anywhere near me😢

[@curiousmind212]

What would you recommend to people who have barefoot shoes because of the wide toe box. Normal shoes were giving me bunions because of how my big toe was being forced over and I’ve only found barefoot shoes to have that wide toe box.

[@jc30005]

I’m interested in this as well. Although I’ve always worn flat shoes in the gym I’ve only recently got wide toe ones.

[@NealHallinan]

That’s a conundrum. I don’t really know. There is a PRI shoe list that you can find online. Some of those may have a wider toe box. I’ve never had a problem with the toe box issue, personally.

[@curiousmind212]

@@NealHallinan I'm wondering about making a sort of DIY hybrid shoe. Take the barefoot shoes I own and add a widewidth insole like the superfeet insoles that cup the heel and provide arch support. Would something like that provide the type of heal contact you're describing in your video? That way I could not irritate my toe joint, but get the feedback my feet need?

[@camillecali22]

I had bought the vibrams. I wore out one pair but when I bought the second I noticed they were not so comfortable anymore. I was ten years younger when I bought the first pair and hiking was a weekend thing on dirt/grass. Now retired I was using them to walk on concrete everyday. I switched to water shoes and added an extra insert but with covid I was walking on rugs in the house and barefoot almost all day long. Putting on shoes to shop every few weeks. Now post covid and back to walking on concrete I am looking at investing in a good solid pair of hiking boots. I am in my 60s and find I need more sole between me and the ground. I still love walking barefoot in my house and in my yard. I have always taken off my shoes the minute I had a chance. However pounding on concrete day after day requires more cushion for me

[@NealHallinan]

That's a very fair and sensible observation.

[@daviddebbiewilliams5262]

Hello there from Anglesey in North Wales. I'm 55 & been wearing barefoot shoes for over three years now. and I loved them. Until I came across your video. I Am an 'avid runner. But two years ago I got this injury in my left hip, from out of nowhere? I've been really struggling with this since then. so from tomorrow, I will be wearing proper shoes. it all makes sense now! Neal thank you, you have given me real hope.🦵💪

[@loadedmango387]

another great video, thank you

[@joyce2077]

Wonderful information 🎉 THANK YOU

[@trumantyrer9234]

I’ve been wearing barefoot shoes for the last few years and experience all of this🤦‍♂️. What kind of shoes should I get instead?

[@al_lavery]

GREAT 411 I appreciate your insight Happy New Year

[@a123zmoma]

Now it makes sense, when 8 months ago I started a new job as a gardener at cemetery, they gave me a pair of safety boots, my tendonitis began to subside. I didn't like the boots, but you know, gotta stay safe as we work with machine. I had worn, and still do, barefoot shoes for 3-4 years (vibram, vivobarefoot, Joe Nimble). and through that time, it was great when I was active playing soccer, but i could never get walking quite right. it sounds ridiculous when I write it out, but it is the truth. At some poin I even thought, that we are not supposed to heel strike when we walk (only about 1 month i had that opinion though ;))

[@Olli741]

hi, it works perfectly for me with the paper towels under the left heel and the right arch! Immediately feel better and pain-free when walking! what does this mean for the future? Exercises? Deposits?

[@leslieotto5616]

Two questions: 1 - My main issue with regular shoes are the narrow toe box. I can see where there are instances where arch support would be preferable but I can't see how smooshing the toes together and not allowing them to splay is beneficial in walking or running. When I switched to minimalist shoes, being able to spread my toes relieved a lot of foot and knee pain and the ability to use my big toe in the way it was designed helped with hip pain. Overall switching to barefoot shoes has relieved a lot of pain and I feel like my body moves more freely. 2 - You talk mostly about people who are locked or whose body favors extension. There are so many people out there who are locked in or favor a flexed positions with a dropped rib cage, forward rolled shoulders and or tucked pelvis. You never seem to address those postural tendencies.

[@63montywilliams50]

Outstanding content

[@VladimirMilovanov-ty4kh]

So now i am really curious, i am right hand dominant and left leg dominant, what now?

[@Dupstan]

I have a pectus excavatum so my ribcage is dramatically asymmetrical. My right side rib cage is sticking out while my left is sucken in. To add insult to injury, or I should say injury to insult, my right eye took a traumatic blow and now ive lost some vision in that eye so my left eye is stronger than my right! I guess I'm all balanced out.

[@addy3277]

I have the same issue pectus

[@TheDrivingCrooner117]

I am a recent minimalist shoe convert. I dont think anyone buys them thinking that theyre only going to be used on flat ground and concrete. My back and knee pain has gone away since being a barefoot shoe gal. Maybe science doesn't agree with them (because podiatrists don't make money if you dont need orthopedic inserts), but I know how much better my body feels!

[@johnhodgeman3980]

My MAT/MET specialist said that one of major issies with me is neurological. My brain and my body are on non speaking terms. He proved this to me by testing my ROM all over my body, then having me sensitize my bare feet for a minute on each foot with a fork, and then retested and my weak muscles were no longer weak and my ROM increased significantly! It sounds like voodoo and im a man of science but it worked. And basically my mind muscle connection is not very good and a lot of that comes through from your feet! Sooo he said i should start wearing barefoot shoes asap and feel the ground. Get my body to feel new and different and what old is new stimuli through my feet. And it makes sense and ill tell you why. Even on this channel for PRI, Neal talks about how being in a stressful vs non or less stressful environment or in a different part of a room can affect your muscle activation and ROM. Hes gone over stuff like music, dance, speech..it all affects how your brain communicates neurologically with your body. I just started seeing a PRI guy in NY named Sean Light. Endorsed by Conor Harris and works with professional athletes and in the NBA. He said to me that i probably do the same thing every day. The same routine. The same stimuli. Im not introducing my brain to any new or unpredictable stimuli. Its important to expose my brain to different stimuli snd rebuild those neurons (my phrasing, not his). Soo walking with barefoot shoes, even on flat, even surfaces, for someone like me whos never done that before and is in pain is a net positive because it's introducing my brain to new kinds of stimili through my feet. If my feet start to hurt,i will cross that bridge when i get to it. But rn, i need to get out of pain and i believe walking barefoot all the time will have a positive affect on rebuilding those neural pathways.

[@nicho_libre]

Hello Neal, showed this to some friends at work and it blew their minds a bit. Do you think you could possibly make some recommendations on footware for flat surfaces? Also any thoughts on zero drop vs elevated heel? And are wide toe boxes preferable to slim narrow shoes?

[@lafest1637]

Hi, nice video, is there any resource that documents all these patterns like the AIC pattern? I'd love to look into those more on my own time

[@NealHallinan]

It’s all from the Postural Restoration Institute.

[@misterbulger]

After multiple surgeries on my right side i feel stuck on my left foot. My right leg is just along for the ride and doesnt like baring much weight. It feels like my right foot is stepping in mud best i can describe it. Left foot is solid. Even though im right handed. I feel like im still apated to crutches 10yrs later.

[@melizametzger]

So interesting! Could you please talk a bit about barefoot shoes and the impact (either positive or negative ) they can have on the neck ?

[@OP1H]

Hi Neal, loved your video, thanks for the informative details. I am a PT student, very interesting the part about the right arch doesn't feel the ground. Can you refer me to some resources about the connection between the lack of sensory input from the right arch and absence of pronation? Thanks again :)

[@coach-szabo]

Doesn't the higher heel raise of conventional shoes also contribute to a forward tilted pelvis, and an extended lower back?

[@mindfulmomentswithColm]

interesting, I have definately experienced the back arching with barefoot shoes and thought it was my weak hipflexors or lazy mind, I also tried leaning forward which does seem to help, and building momentum so that the backchain is dominant. I also walk on sand/grass but sadly theres no alternative other than heel striking unless you have another idea? I'm quite happy with my SportS shoes. and another thing to mention, is that we don't just move foward, we move in a wave. so the movement can be stimulated with the core muscles and side abs. this is done by the weck method and goata. it basically mimiks how lizards crawl and animals spiral in movement. also like yin/yang in qigong/tai qi the feet move with the body as a unity. pelvis is tucked under also preventing arch. there is less spiral than an athelete because slower/more conscious movement with head/senses as you mentioned. it reminds us to think where we're going and what our emotional investment is!

[@NealHallinan]

Well, walking should involve heel strike. That’s normal walking. Heels give you hamstrings/glutes and those muscles are needed to pull the pelvis into position was we walk so we can alternate from side to side. Do you not heel strike?

[@Tahnioca]

interesting. I have a shakti matt which is to lie on but i love standing on it. maybe it would begood to do some exercise while standing on it to activate the heel.

[@Seby-biketrial]

i use barefoot shoes for 2 years. Since i walk with them my feet feel better, stronger. Barefoot have very thin soles so i feel many things on flat surfaces (edges, cracks) it is not that flat. What your video (thinking) does not take in consideration is CONSCIOUSNESS - mind-body connection. After using barefoot i did practice conscious walking and changed the way i walk. No longer heal strike but front toes strike so that i use the natural feet hydraulic suspension !! plus i did practice conscious breathing + RELAX as i walk / run with barefoot and everything in my body improved - posture, strengh, balance !!! i feel a loss of balance when i get back in normal shoes. Put any martial arts master into normal run shoes / business shoes and he would lose a lot of balance, stability !! and martial arts fights are on FLAT ground and they stay barefoot ! WHY ?! because barefoot is natural, better for balance, stability, movement. Of course for people who spent most life in normal shoes, they have to gradually transition to barefoot. you need to strenghten your feet. the feet have over 100 muscles, tendons so if you have not used them they are weak!! when i bought my barefoot shoes i could run a 6km with them max but after few months of conscious training (breath, relax while walk, run) my foot got stronger and now i can run barefoot 18 km and my feet feel very good.

[@GabbyTx8]

THANKS FOR THE INFO BLESSINGS

[@adelabrouchy]

Your videos are most interesting. I´ve been studying the mechanics of my spine but they seem complex because I have an scoliosis from birth and 2 calcified vertebrae in my lumbar spine and my upper ribs are twisted with a protrusion from the chest of 2 cm compared with my upper left ribs. My right leg is shorter. I am trying to feel my left heel, and pronating with the right one. I feel less pain in my low back pain in the right side but I breathe easily with my left side and I feel that I've always used the left side of the diaphragm more then the right. Thanks for sharing this new approach for us all. (Really don't know what minimalist shoes are).

[@juisjuis551]

Hi Neil, how do I book a zoom call with you? Your link doesn't work.

[@adityanathan]

Brilliant info. But how about home slippers? They are mostly flat and I am mostly on home slippers.

[@Thesureleague]

Great stuff. Really thought our body was completely symmetrical

[@ardaonen260]

Great video as per usual, however I'd like to add my two cents. I'm someone that has tried to go barefoot and wear some minimalist shoes or sandals for the last 4 years, and more or less I'd say all your observations and guesses about the way that going barefoot or wearing minimalist shoes affects the body are totally correct in my personal experience. However, you say that the issues are not biomechanical, or kinesiology, but psychological. I'd like to say that I think you should go one step further beyond psychological, and more deeply consider the learned skill elements of the mind and their effects on the body in normal vs minimalist footwear. I think that many people who wear minimalist shoes did not grow up or learn to walk and run wearing them, and have spent a comparatively small amount of time wearing them compared to normal footwear, and are in a state of reinforced improvised adaptation to a once-novel stress. Especially in the case of going fully barefoot, when things like the skin and fat pads are unadapted to the increased ground contact friction and wear, pain and discomfort due to poor skill movements (ie poorly timed and clumsy) can create knee jerk reactions like excessively forefoot (gastroc dominant) gait cycles in order to compensate. Relying on the cushioned heel pad of non-minimalist shoes in order to dull heel strike impacts, and not having the skill or awareness be much more precise in timing in order to create the same low level of impact force upon contact is a good example of why people feel pain in the heels, (the brain then ignores the good info it's getting to avoid the pain), and then shifts to a more forefoot gait to take the impact force away from the heels. I think that reaching out with the nerves and mind into the feet to sense the ground is something that has to be learned, and can be done in any kind of footwear. I could send you videos of people coaching how to ski, as they crush their feet into rigid plastic ski boots and yet focus on the sensations within the boot on the bottom of the foot. I think when the feet are in a shoe or other environment that is foreign, the brain cannot be taught to simply relax, because there is a real danger of skill incompetency due to the different sensations. For the brain to relax the tightened muscles ie hip flexors/gastroc, it must be taught the muscle memory of new skills that will allow it to competently and confidently drive the body around the surrounding world. In essence, barefoot/minimalist shoes don't suck, you just suck at everything you do while wearing them, and get subconsciously timid stressed and tight the moment you put them on. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

[@tishguerrero]

Note that humans have been wearing flat shoes or barefoot shoes for centuries. It’s only until the 70s(aka Nike generation) sold us a false sense we need cushion shoes. Also a lot of countries wear flat shoes, like sandals. Note studies have shown that those countries have less back & postural problems.

[@Martin-dn8bu]

im 55 yr old and up until 3 months ago, when i started to experience pain on my heel, i never cared about the types of shoes i was wearing. Having seen many videos recently im still more confused as i dont know what type of shoes to wear or buy. When experts disagree so profoundly with each other what hope have we got.