Barefoot Shoes Explained | Physical Therapist Perspective
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- čas přidán 9. 04. 2022
- You might be wondering what the point of barefoot shoes? Or maybe you know why, but you want to go a little more in depth about it. Either way, this video aims to answer some of the questions you might have, from a physical therapist perspective!
1:32 Barefoot Shoes vs Nike Shoes Characteristics
3:35 Experience in the Shoe
4:35 For Exercise Uses
5:56 Cons of Barefoot Shoes
6:47 Final Thoughts
(Shoe in Video) - Vivobarefoot Primus Lite III:
(Amazon) MENS: geni.us/ojyLkT
(Amazon) WOMENS: geni.us/xedy5OM
More Selections from Vivobarefoot: geni.us/QTzmce
Review on Popular barefoot shoes: • Vivobarefoot vs Xero S...
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DISCLAIMER: This content (the video, description, links, and comments) is not medical advice or a treatment plan and is intended for general education and demonstration purposes only. This content should not be used to self-diagnose or self-treat any health, medical, or physical condition. Don’t use this content to avoid going to your own healthcare professional or to replace the advice they give you. Consult with your healthcare professional before doing anything contained in this content. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Dr. Michael Tang for any and all losses, injuries, or damages resulting from any and all claims that arise from your use or misuse of this content. Dr. Michael Tang makes no representations about the accuracy or suitability of this content. Use of this content is at your sole risk.
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These products were bought personally by Dr. Michael Tang for this guide/review. This review and its content was not reviewed or paid for by outside persons or manufacturers.
![Top 5 Barefoot Shoes LIES! [Plantar Fasciitis, Bunions & Flat Feet]](/img/n.gif)
I'm an 82-year-old woman and I've been wearing barefoot shoes for about 2 years. They really feel weird at first, but the increased stability and balance are worth getting used to them. It didn't take me long to get used to them, maybe a month or two.
That’s not how it works, especially if you are 82. You feet have grown and developed in shoes all your life, a month or two does not completely change your legs and their kinematics to a point where barefoot shoes are “normal” for you
@@nathans2157 did you forgot to read the part where she has work them for 2 years
@@nathans2157 Learn to read. She said 2 years. Why are you talking about month or two.
Bro's berating an 82 yo woman 💀
@@nathans2157 You know what? Walking around the house barefoot and only wearing low heeled shoes in wide widths for many years helps to train your feet too. Doing that has keep me from developing bunions and squished toes. Wearing the barefoot shoes has improved my feet even further and after two years my feet look like a baby's feet. I was just lucky that I've always been more interested in comfort than in fashion. Also, you might be surprised how fast an old body can improve.
Switching to barefoot shoes a month ago completely fixed my knee, back and foot pain. I already had strong feet because I walk around my house barefoot and do stair climb sets in my house barefoot. It only took about 3 weeks to be totally comfortable all day in them, doing foot and ankle exercises daily. I feel like I have better balance, I'm more nimble on my feet and I don't walk like a duck anymore.
Good to know man. I was wearing Hoka Speedgoat 4 shoes and now have serious supination problem in my left foot and also my left foot points slightly outwards now. I never had this problem before. I have flat feet since I was a baby, but always walked like a normal person. Now I can't walk normally without thinking about it and when trying to correct it hurts and feels very unnatural to walk. How are you progressing now? Are your problems fixed for good?
@@MrX-vk1jl Unfortunately I've been getting pretty bad pain in the arch of my left foot recently. My knees and back are still pain free and my right foot feels great so I'm not sure what's wrong or what to do.
I watched myself walking in the mirror today. My left foot points outward and I'm bending my ankle inward as I walk. Im going to focus on walking with my feet and ankles straight and see if that helps. I used to limp because my left knee was in serious pain so I think the problem Im having now is just a result of habitual limping. I also haven't been keeping up with the foot and ankle exercises that I was doing when I first switched. I believe I overestimated the strength of my foot muscles.
No more pain. I wasn't engaging the muscles in my feet properly. Just had to practice walking correctly for a few days and everything seems good now
@@MrX-vk1jl this video really helped me understand what was causing my foot pain. I wish I saw it when I first switched to barefoot shoes. czcams.com/video/HXlKVVoVnpU/video.html
My entire muscular skeletal system has improved since going barefoot, it took about a year overall but my pelvis and lumbar spine corrected itself, and my thoracic and cervical part of my spine realigned which improved my posture and reduced the tension in my shoulders and rhomboids
its good to know, im thinking about getting one
Why do you have my exact problems 😵
I just started wearing barefoot shoes
I wonder if it had more to do with you wanting to be more mobile with the zero drop shoes. Or the actual shoes themselves. I know a lot of runners who will avoid zero drop shoes like the plague. Even though they tend to hike in something close to zero drop. Myself included.
I used to have foot pain just walking in any kind of shoe when I wasn’t very fit, while trying to get fit.
I know just as many people who have injured their feet while trying to get into fitness too quick with zero drop and regular cushioned shoes.
The main difference I see between the two style of shoes is the culture behind the shoe. Zero drop has this culture of slow, steady, and build. While traditional shoes have a get up and go mentality.
I guess if I were to make an analogy. A zero drop shoe and a weight training shoe will not make you squat 300 lbs if your max is 135 lbs. it will still take you time. One shoe might give you more confidence than the other. And it might cause you to over exert and cause injury.
I used to enjoy running in converse and adidas skating shoes. Close to zero drop. Never had any real pain. But noticed my legs would be dead tired by mile 6. Switched to traditional running shoes. I felt pain in my feet for a month but after a month of soreness I saw my runs quickly improve.
I'm with many of the commenters. I was an avid runner in traditional shoes for about 15 years. Then the problems came. Foot pain, knee pain, back pain. Was about to just consider my running days finished. Then i Stumbled upon the book "born to run", and slowly transitioned in minimalist shoes. Made some mistakes but about to hit a year and will be doing a half marathon in March. Make the switch but take your time! It does take patience
I recall a tribe of ultra marathon runners from Mexico, the Tarahumara Indians, sponsored in their first event by a U of A Professor of anthropology and avid runner. He provided them with Nike running shoes. They took them off after a few Mike’s and put their minimalist sandals on; the kind with spaghetti like leather straps and an old used tire tread for the sole. Yeah, the cleaned house that year in Colorado.
And thats the story of how vibrams 5 fingers came to be
Three years wearing barefoot shoes...totally addicted can barely stand to wear any other shoes
I'm over 2 years now on the zero-drop shoe train. For me, it's a feeling of lightness. At 6'6" and 240 pounds tall, I'm a big guy. The feeling of lightness that comes with strong feet is unbelievable. I can go en pointe (stand on just my big toes) and walk around for over 30 seconds. The transformation to my feet muscles (and glutes and calves) has been incredible. I never want to go back, and any time I've worn normal shoes again they are very strange. Feels like the heel wants me to slide off and fall over.
A 240 lb guy going en pointe? That's truly amazing. How do you look in a tutu? :)
I've got several clients and friends who have made the transition to minimal shoes, and all are transformed and amazed. I prefer Xero shoes for comfort and styling. Be careful of tendinitis from too much stress too soon. Take preventive measures (mobilize joints in the ankles and feet, massage and strengthen)
They will definitely show you your weakest link. I just started wearing them for running a couple weeks ago and probably pushed a little further than I should have and my ankles both were screaming at me to stop. I could feel them turning inwards, something that I’ve never felt in three years of running. So ice, massage, and now looking into exercise to work on them. For now I think I will run with a small backpack with my regular 14mm Brooks so I can switch without going back to the house/car.
Switched to Xero shoes. I am now very uncomfortable in regular shoes. Going to a xero drop has helped low back pain/sciatica for me. It's definitely a process though. I am now training to hike the Camino de Santiago. Barefoot shoes are challenging with a pack on your back, but going back to a regular hiking boot/shoe is uncomfortable, and I can feel the friction spots that will cause blisters any time I even try on a pair of conventional shoes.
There is definitely a learning curve
Good luck with the Camino. It’s an awesome experience. If you haven’t checked them out yet, I can thoroughly recommend Altra Lone Peak 6’s for those longer hiking days with a pack. Zero drop, wide toe box with a little extra stack height for the added weight of your pack for all day comfort
I love my Arcteryx Norvan SL shoes that have a minimal profile and zero drop but still have some cushion for backpacking
I had the same experience! After 6 months of Xero I put on my OnCloud shoes and they felt way too narrow and stiff.
Buen camino! I did the camino del norte a few years ago now. Good luck and enjoy
62 yo woman. Been in my barefoot shoes for 1.5 years, In that time I have NEVER fallen and NEVER rolled my ankle. I was falling every few months and been rolling my ankles my whole life. I will never go back to "walking the planks."
A good use case for barefoot shoes are for situations where being barefoot isnt as socially accepted . Like being at the gym or going shopping , walmart refuses to let me shop barefoot so for someone who loves going barefoot these make sense
What I find funny is where I live I see kids all the time going barefoot and I'm not talking about babies or 2-year-olds sitting in a cart. I've seen like six and seven year olds going around barefoot and to my knowledge Walmart never said anything about them. Yet an adult comes in barefoot and automatically it's a problem.
Nice video. I like your candidness about these shoes exposing weaknesses. I love mine for working out, but for running its a recipe for calf strain every freaking time. Crazy thing is I went up a full shoe size after wearing Xeros for awhile.
I switched to zero drop shoes about 4-5 years ago and haven't looked back. My first pair were some regular work boot that I had altered to have the heel removed. That one change fixed my knew and back issues. At some point I realized that my ankle was collapsing like yours, and switching to a wide toes box shoe was the thing to fix it because apparently the muscle that forms the arch is connected to the big toe. Great video, and I hope this content helps someone else like me who used to suffer from low back, knee, and ankle issues.
That muscle is called your Tibialis Posterior. It's underneath both your calf muscles and is integral to a stable foot arch!
@@BossofBosses111 That is wrong actually. The muscle that connects the big toe to your calf to lift the arch is called the flexor hallucious longus. It is one of the longest muscles in the body.
Work boots? Normaly work boots are here to cover your foot from falling objects and penetrating stuff from the ground. Barefoot shoes are not that great for that reason.
Omg my first week was harder then I thought. My inner thighs and groin area was so sore. It’s feeling much better now.
Thanks Dr. Michael. I'm researching grounding and earthing and this helped.
I moved to colder climate and switched to shoes 7 years ago. I couldn't understand 2-3 yrs ago why my hiking was bothering my lower back. Even if it was few hours of pain its something I never had happen to me. I just dismissed it as age. Until I saw my toe skin slipping under previous toes. So I switched to xero shoes. Woo its a change, and things actually just fell into place on its own. No more back pain after hiking :) my toes couldn't be anymore happier
I discovered Vibram FiveFingers around 2010 and promptly bought my first pair. I mainly wore them for hiking, jogging, and long walks. They lasted me about 4 or 5 years before I started wearing holes into the toes and stopped wearing them. Back in January of this year I broke my tibia and fibula in a snow shoveling incident. During my subsequent physical therapy I decided to order a new pair of FiveFingers to aid in strengthening my knees, ankles, and feet. I don’t wear them nearly as often now that I’m mostly recovered from my broken leg and back at work, but I still wear them when I go walking in the mall or around town. I feel much more planted and able to adapt my stance to uneven terrain when I’m wearing them. While I certainly don’t recommend them for everyone… for the right person it can be very helpful.
Props to you for wearing those in public lol
Started wearing Vibram 5 toe shoes a couple of years back, best thing ever, for my feet, legs & back. I am 65 & have a couple of different Barefoot shoes. Only problem seems to be with others - people complain that they cannot hear me walking. Apparently, that startles a lot of people .... Kids love the 5 toe shoes, they want to know where the shoes are!
I've been wearing a pair of Vivo shoes for 3 days now, I was on my feet at work for about 20 hours in them. I brought my old shoes as backups but even though my feet were aching quite a bit I kept them on. The first day it was mainly the balls of feet aching and my calves getting used to the extra range of motion because I was walking like was literally barefoot by planting my toes first. Second day it was actually harder on my heels than the first because I relaxed a bit too much and my gait returned to normal. Third day (today) I began to notice myself walking in a way I've never really walked before, it was what Dr. Tang here said, that you plant just before your heel - while my feet still ached at the end of the day today it wasn't anything like day one and at no point was I feeling pensive about walking around.
I'm glad to see you suggest such shoes, they aren't cheap but they seem beneficial, my feet are already stronger. The moment I sat down tonight when I got home my feet relaxed, before I even took them off. Not like with other shoes where after I take them off my feet feel like they have to spread out a bit before I can relax them entirely. It is also good to see that you didn't say much about arch support in these shoes, it makes sense to me because arched feet are entirely natural, and if my feet are feeling strong it stands to reason my arches wouldn't be affected negatively by these shoes.
Thanks for the video.
This is a nice well balanced review of barefoot shoes. I second the observation that barefoot shoes are a long term change approach. Took me about 2-4 months to get comfy in barefoot shoes. Now I do around 3-5 miles walk/running a day in a barefoot hiking shoe. The only time I have problems with barefoot shoes is running and long term standing on really hard surfaces. No amount of adjustment period has fixed that for me. Barefoot shoes are great for when you spend a good chunk of time on grass and dirt. Thank being said I lean towards wearing barefoot shoes most of the time because I like the increased strength in my feet, connective tissue and calf.
Do you have a good hiking shoe that you like?
After going to barefoot shoes my lower back pain disappeared in just 2 hours, a muscle injury behind the knee that I had for 3 months healed in 15 days of wearing barefoot shoes. First day I was heelstriking a lot and my knees really felt it but in a week everything was fine and could already run a mile with minimal discomfort. Just don't overdo it if you very incomfortable.
I have walked the Camino de Santiago in Xero terraflex shoes. Loved it
Wide fit shoes were the best change I ever made.
You missed one of the main benefits of switching to Barefoot shoes, they help cure chronic knee, hip and back problems.
I spent much of my adult life struggling with chronic foot problems (Morton's neuroma) and chronic hip & lower back issues. It got so bad that I couldn't walk more than a few steps without being in excruciating pain!
However, 10 years ago I started wearing barefoot type shoes and within months ALL of my previous issues were cured/disappeared.
My advice to everyone is don't wait until you have foot, hip or back problems start wearing barefoot-type shoes now as a preventative measure.
The benefits vary by individual. For some they will improve their knee, hip , and low back problems and for others it may not. As mentioned in the video , these type of shoes tend to improve mobility and strength in the feet which in turn goes up the chain, which some times leads to improvement in symptoms of pain, but it is not always the case!
However, I am glad you were able to find success !
@@ForTeamTang the problem with this is that it becomes almost religious like with people imagining quite a bit. Strong feet are excellent and necessary. There are no studies that show decrease in injuries etc related to barefoot shoes. The lack of peer-reviewed data greatly contrasts with the religious statements of followers.
The big issue is that the anecdotal outcomes of people being helped are not able to add to a body of knowledge. This is not to say they did not happen, but it also means that one cannot reasonably guarantee recreating these outcomes in others. There are plenty of hypotheses, but the research is just not being designed, funded, and executed. I appreciate a doctor sticking to what is definitely non-contentious, because anything else is a liability.
@@IceHibiscus Barefoot shoes are the chiropractic solution of the footwear world.
@@IceHibiscus True, it would be ideal if a research study was undertaken, but sometimes in life things can be blindingly obvious and this is a case in point. If people wear shoes that are designed as "foot shaped£ rather than "non-foot shaped" they will have fewer acute and cronic skeletal & muscular injuries.
Great video on the pros and cons. Seems very balanced and thorough.
$161? Grab some water shoes for $20. That’s what I’ve been wearing for years in my martial arts and fitness practices. Amazon has some cool styles. 👍🏼
Agreed 💯
Well...
But those ugly ash lets be honest lol. Not saying that $161 isnt too expensive tho, it is
They aren’t all that expensive , try Xero
I got my first pair of barefoot shoes today from an online provider and was shocked to find out they are basically a boat shoe (or water shoe) that I probably should have paid less than $20 for but I paid over $60!
I’ve been barefooting and minimalist shoe wearing for 13 years. It’s awesome.
Stumbled across your video and I loved it. I switched to barefoot running 10 years ago and never looked back. I used to get stitches when I ran but this has never happened since. Personally I feel that landing on my mid or forefoot lessens the overall impact on my body and this can only be beneficial in the long term.
I came across the whole Zero Drop genre when I started lookin for shoes that alleviate knee pain. Now I don't see myself going back as my knew is almost fully healed. I love my Altras!
Altras are a complete game changer. Highly recommended. Love the Zero drop with the wide toe box.
Thanks for the information, it helps me in my barefoot journey. I find them more comfortable than ordinary shoes. : D
I suffered from plantar fasciitis, sciatica pain, and knee pain. Had a hard time jogging. My doctor recommended to exercise my feet with a towel to strengthen them. I started doing that and then walking around the house barefoot. That progressed to picking up the Mail half a block away from my house; to a month later walking the dog about half a mile, to then walking 2 miles around my neighborhood 4 months later. I still do that every night barefoot, or with barefoot shoes if it rained or if it is too cold. To this day, 10 years later, I have not had any more plantar fasciitis or any other issue. My feet are very strong, my toes can spread fully, and now I can even jog if I want to. Have lost weight in the process too. So I highly recommend; but as the doctor explained, transition slowly into it. With some exceptions, most people have the same feet structure; so most of us can do it. But you need to condition your feet slowly as the shoe weakens some of the muscles you need to walk barefoot.
Congratulations on your success!
I broke my leg in a motorcycle accident about three years ago and had metal bars, inserted in the bones and have had occasional mild and sometimes overwhelming pain in my leg and ankle, sometimes to the point where I couldn’t walk without limping. And since I started wearing barefoot shoes, I have gone two months now without getting any pain in my leg or ankle, almost at all. It definitely is an adjustment and I will admit they are slightly less comfortable to wear but I feel like my feet and ankles are stronger and more flexible by far. They have made an immediate difference in my quality of life and I am very grateful that I took a chance on these cheap $30 pair of barefoot shoes I got off of Amazon. I will definitely recommend these to anyone.
Took me a year to adjust to minimalist shoes.
Accidentally got into the minimalist shoes when my wife got me a funny looking Vivobarefoot. Started wearing it in the same way as a "standard" shoe without the knowledge that it's a minimalist shoes and it hurt... a lot!
Eventually learnt more about these shoes and started being mindful how to use them until it became muscle memory.
Today I have replaced all of my shoes to minimalist. Also noticed my toes had splayed since changing shoes.
I grew up walking barefoot alot and regular shoes have always been uncomfortable for me. I got my first barefoot shoes recently and so far has been amazing
Ive been walking with converse vans etc my whole life i bought a pair of vivo primus lite knits to the gym but when i tried them outside the shoes stayed on my feet ever since i didnt have to get used to walking in them i just felt my feet was relaxed now i need a few new pairs
I have an IM nail in my tibia, and these shoes seem to be helping with recovery. It feels more natural and the placebo is nice.
I hike in Zero shoes Aqua X Sport. The first time, my ankles gave out at 5 miles. Now I am hiking 10 miles ankles are definitely able to hold up longer. Longest Hike was 14 miles and it killed my calves. It's been about 6 months now. I choose Aqua X Sport because the trails are wet and muddy. I just walk right into a stream and the mud washes off. I have the hiker version coming tomorrow. I'm really excited to try them out in more rocky terrain. Aqua X Sport did well, I am way more conscious of where I put my feet when walking. I really do pay attention, with the thin soles, you can really feel the uneven rocky grounds. I used to wear hiking boots, maybe in winter hikes I will but not this summer.
Thanks for sharing your experience! I kind of suspected it would be like the experienced you explained. I will have to check out the Aqua X Sport when I get a chance!
Also, Xero has Daylite hikers, a lightweight boot that’s good for 3 season hiking and Alpines, an insulated winter boot. Both boots, especially the Alpines, are stiffer than their “regular” shoes (especially the Alpines) but both are more flexible than traditional hiking boots so you get a lot of the barefoot experience even so.
Love barefoot shoes! Looking at brands, to broaden my daily selection. I have even run a half marathon in 5 fingers.
Just a side note because it's always great to learn new things: As a dental hygienist, I will tell you that if there is a space due to tooth loss, the surrounding teeth certainly WILL drift into that space. Not necessarily like straight soldiers, because they generally "tip" into the space. You may even have the tooth directly OPPOSING the space drift either "up" or "down" into the space. That's called supra-eruption. All of these are why it's important to get a crown recemented asap if it should come off. Teeth will drift and then it just won't fit back on. For some people this happens quickly, for others, it's a very slow process. ;-)
give another side note 😮
i have hole in a wisdom tooth for over a year, hole size of a bean
I got my bottom wisdom teeth pulled very young, which I regret. The 2nd set of rear bottom teeth drifted to the rear & now there is a gap between the last 2 teeth where food is ALWAYS getting stuck. Don’t have this issue anywhere else, only there because a space was created and it drifted. Also the top opposing teeth grew down so much I had to get them pulled because they were interlocking/overlapping with the bottom rear tooth (the one that drifted). Basically removing the bottom 2 wisdom teeth messed everything up. This is a common suggestion by dentists but don’t do it unless there is some specific reason. Your teeth grow straight because they are tightly fitted into your jaw, take any one of them and you’ll have all kinds of issues.
Got back to running few months ago with Pegasus 39 (10mm drop, some say it's 8mm actually) and Hoka Mach 4 (5mm drop). My weight: 75kg, running on hard tarmac all the time.
Running 4 days a week, using both shoes twice a week to rotate. But most long runs were done in Hoka Mach 4. Did a half marathon, 1 week after wanted do the same, had to stop at mile 8 due to a very sharp pain in one of my Achilles tendons. Eased off running after that and started doing all runs in Pegasus 39 to protect my Achilles tendons.
IMHO there's no right or wrong way when it comes to zero drop or high drop shoes. You need to find what's good for you. Both types of shoes can cause injury when you rely too much on them and not mix them up.
There are many variables: your lifestyle, how much you walk/run, your weight, the kind of surface you walk/run on.
On one hand babysitting your feet is not great imo, you don't develop good running form, too much cushioning can make you actually slam your feet harder and put more impacf on your knees/hips. On the other hand: trying to transistion to quick can lead to injury. Like with everything moderation is key, right amount of pressure. It's a holistic approach.
For me right know I know:
- I need bit more cushioning (running only on hard surfaces, weight: 75kg, not overweight but not light as let's say 60-65kg runners)
- Need to do long runs in higher drop shoes for now (Not going to ditch Hoka Mach 4 shoes but my Achilles tendons are not yet ready for weekly half marathons in them. Mach 5 should be good in the future as they have same 5mm drop but bit more cushioning).
- Gradually I'll try to work towards more towards low drop shoes, running in them feels bit more natural and you feel more connected to the road. Zero drop shoes: too early for me, maybe one day
At the end of the day: you need to figure out what's good for YOU at THIS MOMENT. Try different things gradually but always: listen to your body first...
Agreed and well said
It has really helped with my posture. Really liking it so far with the barefoot shoes. :)
Thanks so much!
I wear Vivobarefoot shoes and boots. Totally love them and would never go back to ordinary shoes. A word of warning though, you need to transition into Barefoot shoes gradually and strengthen your feet with daily exercises. I used to wear orthotics but I don’t need them anymore!
I’ve been wearing barefoot shoes for 4 months and love them.
I just wear wider shoes like New Balance or Reebok nanos all the time now. I actually had to give up on using my old olympic lifters for squatting because the toe box was too tight and had to work on mobility more to make up for it
You are in luck, i believe there is a wide foot olympic lifter on the way to the market , made by tyr. I will be making a review on the shoe when it is out, so stay tuned!
These seem very similar to aqua shoes. I wear those while driving because I can't drive with most of my actual shoes due to their soles being too thick, having heels on them, etc. Aqua shoes are also very thin with a flexible rubber sole and considerably cheaper than these specialized barefoot shoes. Might be a good way to test out if you would have issues with barefoot shoes by trying out some cheap aqua shoes first.
Wonderful video 🙏🙏 probably you are already aware but the barefoot in 00:43 (collapsed Arch visible Left foot) and 3:33 (overpronation at the right foot) indicates are flat feet and they require a different transition. By no means I am expert but initial phase should involve orthopedic insoles until arch is there without deliberate feet contraction. Otherwise wearing barefoot directly might make it worse getting flatter feet, internally rotated knees, curved hip even back issues over the years. There are also lot's of exercises to help flat feet and introducing barefoot walking is one of them. Cheers ✌️
Standing all day in the military I even got the mini boots from Bellville and they really do feel great on my feet. I'd say everything but running for long distances is good.
Dude! Squat shoes for squat, flats for deadlift or no shoes for deadlift ( except maybe snatch grip deadlift). Even a super heavyweight deadlifts in ballet slippers. Get the squat shoes. That quarter squat you did belongs on one of those channels where they deride such things. Your heels are lifting in the squat, even in wedges.
The transition to barefoot shoes can be challenging but worth it in the long run. As we age, balance and leg strength becomes more important and barefoot shoes definitely help on both of those.
Hi Mr. Tang. My son was born with a clubbed foot and i was wondering what type of shoe would be best? He is now 14 yrs.old and sometimes complains of ankle pain.
I heard about this concept a few years ago. But I have high arches, so I figured I need arch support. Maybe not…
I am still considering my first pair of barefoot shoes. I think my favorite part is the zero drop aspect. I have a pair of casual boots that have a minimal drop and I will wear those on the weekends. But come Monday morning when I put on my work boots with a higher heel, I feel it in my calves and lower back. That’s why I am considering barefoot, to make my lower back stop working to find a new center of gravity.
I've been using barefoot shoes for a couple of months. I use toe separators with them to speed up the process of reshaping my foot. It's a process.
Started working from home when COVID hit and stopped wearing my shoes because of that. As time went on I started paying more attention to my feet and realized my toes are starting to touch in my Nikes in spots they never did before. The barefoot feeling just feels amazing. Ordered my first pair of vivos so I can start working towards a fulltime barefoot feeling, even outside the house.
I’ve been wearing barefoot shoes for last 3 years and it has transformed my life. I run with a weighted vest (slowly) and I have several pairs of causal minimalist barefoot shoes. I played basketball for throughout my youth and early twenties, my knees were shot and my ankles were weak. Facing possible multiple surgeries, I tried barefoot shoes and I’ve have NOT had any knee nor ankle problems since. It took 6 months to adjust but in the end I could never go back
I switched to barefoot shoes 3 years ago, and as a long distance runner, they completely took away knee and foot pain. It only took 2 months to completely adjust to them. Now I run hundreds of miles every year all in barefoot shoes.
forefoot strike?
@@silence-humility-calmness that's necessary and adaptation of the Achilles tendon is what takes the longest. Take it easy, start from just 1-2 jog session with barefoot and very slowly increase it
@@rotanux yeah, i have been doing it quite a while now, did a few 7 milers, was quite unnatural in the beginning, am still not full adapted, initially i landed on the ball right below big toe, but after watching slomo's i figures you first touched down at the pinkie then rolled into your full ball, now i am trying to use that as base but being mindful as i run to develop the right form so that its most comfortable on my joints witch i have to be extra mindful to avoid issues
@@silence-humility-calmness another thing to realize is that you don't need to be on your toes, but just hitting with your mid foot works just fine. You're jogging in fact, not Sprinting. At first I was trying to imitate the technique of a sprint, but that does work only if you're sprinting. Jogging on your mid foot put less stress on your Achilles T also because you take shorter steps
@@rotanux you gave me food for thought
I have FAI. I’m noticing that my knees and ankles are affected if I slack on my hip PT exercises. Do you think “barefoot” shoes would benefit myself and others with weak hips?
When I was in Highschool I had normal running shoes and thanks to the narrow toe space I ended up having to go to the doctor to remove my big toenail because it punctured my toe
7:00 it is necessary. So our walk style adapts to the barefoot shoe. if you land with heel first its not good for knee and back
I'd get some except here in MN I really can't wear them around every day for half the year. They loo very thin and thus very cold, most regular tennis shoes have some padding on the sides that keeps your foot noticeably warmer. on top of that it is really wet here especially in the spring and I've had shoes with thinner soles and an inch makes a big difference in keeping your foot dry when there is a quarter inch of water on the ground everywhere, since most of it runs off leaving just thin puddles behind in low spots. basically, I could only where it during the summer anyway, and only when it isn't raining, so maybe 4 months of the year, 6 if I got lucky.
You need to gradually transition to barefoot shoes and also do exercises to correct any weaknesses in your feet. Wearing regular shoes weakens and distorts our feet so it takes time and work to adjust. It's worth it.
Unless your feet hurt walking in socks, then I don't see a problem wearing minimalistic shoes or just zero-drop shoes. About the ankle stability issue (5:08), doesn''t it just tell you that you need to strengthen that part before you lift weights? I found power walking is great for this - the ankles get sore in the beginning... a lot :)
Great video I need your advice..I walk 5k a day trying to get back in shape . I looking in to buying a good pair of walking shoes 5k a day outside. Many issues back ,knee, and footpain due to excessive weight .I have flat feet underpronation and Achilles foot pain . Choices asics cumulus 24 or numbs 24. Or other brands you might have experienced. Please advise
I have a shortened achilles, so I naturally walk on my tippy toes and did have minor plantar fasciitis for awhile. Do you think transitioning to barefoot (while practicing proper form ofc) makes sense or could that do more harm to my tendon?
The best way to answer is to say that the body will adapt to the circumstances it is in. If there the right amount of stress, than their is growth. If it is too much, there may be injury.
Nice clear explanation! If I try them out for just the gym but wear regular sneakers for running, would I still get some of the benefits or do you have to wear the barefoot shoes most of the time?
Assuming you are acclimated, it is preffered to wear the shoes for longer durations because your foot will adapt to what ever it is in the most . Its kind of like if you only work out once a week compared to a couple times a week, it would be better if you can go a couple of times a week for more strength and generalized fitness (within reason)
If you are interested in fixing your ankle mobility issue, and some other movement patterns that are affecting you, I would be happy to give you some tips. Probably make significant progress in a day
Just started the transition for running and my ankles want to collapse after 2 miles.
Omg, so I have plantar fascititis. I got some zero drop shoes. Any other shoe your toes are squished in. I put the zero drop shoes on and instant relief. It's definitely weird and my calfs are tight because I feel like I need to relearn how to place my feet on the ground. I'm done with regular shoes
Switching to barefoot shoes gave me metatarsalgia and I am due for surgery soon. I've been off my feet thanks to barefoot shoes for over 3 months.
That is wildly unfortunate given how exceedingly rare this circumstance is,especially if you were properly aclimmated to it. That being said, your circumstance must have been very severe to require surgical intervention. Perhaps there was other potential underlying issues that may have put you at increased risk? Wish for you to have a successful surgery.
@@ForTeamTang it’s not as rare as you think. Human feet did not evolve to walk barefoot on concrete.
@@blainechandler1551 Agreed. The intention not necessarily to walk on concrete barefoot, that being said I think human potential for adaptation is vast if given enough time and appropriate conditioning.
I got Morton’s neuroma from wearing those exact pair of Nikes for years when running. Most shoes do not support people with wide, flat feet. I started with the Merrell vapor glove which is like going straight to hard mode. I bought some lems but they feel like new balances or something, too much cushion. The vivo’s are excellent the right balance I would recommend if you’re going to make the jump start with vivos yeah they’re expensive but theyre the best
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.
I used to wear the fivefingers all the time, I eventually moved away because walking on hard surfaces like concrete gets tiring. Nowadays I hike in a minimal approach style shoe. I've been looking at barefoot shoes for the slackline though.
It took me months to develop enough ankle strength to forefoot run in barefoot shoes but now I can
I did NOT have a bunion until I started wearing a certain brand of women’s shoes daily.
It’s developed slowly and painfully.
I’m attempting everything, even barefoot shoes😊
I have epin calcanei what kind of shoes you suggest ?
I was wondering about this because I don’t seem to have the same foot problems as a lot of other people I’ve seen and met, and I’m just now realizing it’s probably because I almost exclusively wore crocs growing up and I’m autistic so any excuse I had to go barefoot I was doing that. Seriously, I have to wonder because most of my friends have joint problems of some kind. I have some, but only in my arms which is interesting
Corollary to this: I just tried walking around and noticing how I walk, and I just now realized that the way I walk barefoot would completely fix the running problems I have. I have had to train myself to lean forward when running because the heel strike can be awful for your shins and joints (and in my experience is also slower) but apparently I already naturally do that when barefoot, the heel “support” just screws that up.
I noticed that my heel landing is getting worse when wearing barefoot shoes too. It's logical because naturally we only walk on softer, unpaved ground, and land heel first. But sadly, most of the ground we walk on is paved. So I put a small heel cushion in my barefoot shoes and now I walk correctly again. Sadly this compromises the 'no drop' feature, but that's a scarifice I'm willing to make.
What I would really like is a shoe with regular cushioning and just a wider toe box.
from Cyndi
I am an 87 yr old woman and have been walking every day in barefoot shoes for 9 mos.
After 2 mos., my standard sneakers felt really weird, so I donated most of them to charities.
Am very happy that I made the transition. My balance has improved. If anyone wants to try these shoes and doesn't want to spend a lot of money up front, you can buy an inexpensive water shoe to see if no-support shoes work for you. That's what I did.
I'm 28 yo. I almost never wore slippers or any other shoes at home. In my culture (Poland) we usualy take off our outside shoes, but many people wear slippers. I always found them uncomfortable. I bought my first pair of barefoot shoes 6 months ago and transition to those took me 0 days. I'm not going back, I love my Brubeck merino shoes - so lightweight, so flexible. I can't wear some of my old shoes because I'm tired of stiff soles and narrow toeboxes.
Thank you so much for the informative video! I’m currently thinking to get a vibram five fingers and vivobarefoot. However, I had a lateral ankle ligament (CFL) reconstruction surgery in April 2022 by using peroneus longs tendon autograft, and my ankle still cannot really do inversion and eversion now. Is it a good idea to change to barefoot shoes at this stage? (Btw i have quite serious flat feet)
Or i should wait until i can move my ankle in a greater angle first, thank you :))
Hard to answer that question with preceisce accuracy without more formal evaluation, I would say it is best to ask your local physio for specifics to your case.
@@ForTeamTang ok:) thank you very much Michael :D
Do I have to wear supportive shoes if I have tendonitis? How can I switch to barefoot without getting more injured?
I’m on day 3 of wearing Xero shoes and they have been pretty good so far. I walk on concrete for a good portion of my day and my heels have not hurt at all in them yet. When with my old shoes my heels would hurt by the end of my shift
How is it now?
I’m pushing 70 and have significant cervical and lumbar spine stenosis and bulging discs. I’ve been a barefoot babe all of my life and haven’t worn heels in years. I frequently wear Birkenstock’s and when I recently got a pair of minimalist shoes and I put them on I told my husband how comfortable they are. I had bought a traditional pair of wide width sneakers before the barefoot shoes and they were so uncomfortable that I sent them back. I guess my widening feet are due to being barefoot.
I switched to barefoot shoes 2 years ago. It only took me two weeks to adjust to them, and since I have run hundreds of miles every day all in barefoot shoes.
can you speak to or recommend someone who can speak to using barefoot shoes or actually going barefoot for Jazzercise. Lots of runners and hikers in the comments below, which suggests to me it's a possibility. I've tried all kinds of shoes for Jazzercise but usually when my feet hurt bad enough, I kick them off and just finish the class barefoot. It doesn't hurt, but I wasn't sure I wasn't setting myself up for something bad in the near future. So I gave up Jazzercise. By the way, I take about 6 hours of ballet, and an additional 3-4 hours of other dance each week. I'm 52 and (ahem) a bit fluffy if any of that has any bearing on the conversation. Much thanks.
Great content! Love that it's coming from a scientific practicioner perspective.
I do wonder though, is it better to make a 50-50 switch (wear barefoot shoes only 50% of the time) or stick with heeled shoes the entire time?
Thinking about how your feet would then need to readapt every time you change your shoes 🤔
I will speak from my own personal experience, after wearing a barefoot shoe long enough, wearing regular shoes will just be "not as comfortable". If you are talking about initially, I would say I am not sure how it would go to be honest. There isn't really concrete data related to a 50-50 split. But I can say that some people require a longer transition period to acclimate to a barefoot shoe, which 50-50 scenario would be more beneficial.
@@ForTeamTang Thanks for your perspective!
I'm just considering switching to barefoot shoes for non-work occasions. Can't really move away from the usual dress shoes for my corporate job..but now that it's mostly working-from-home, I'm already wearing those dress shoes quite rarely.
@@en1324 I believe there are some company that make wider dress shoes
What's the cheapest and best to buy?
I currently have arthritis in the ankles and i'm currently loving how the zero drop and wide toe box feels with my inserts, however, i'm wondering if these are good long term or should i revert back to a more normal shoe
It is likely that adaptation will probably happen, so long term use is usually not an issue.
Dude did you ever go to la fitness in Pembroke Pines 184 next to the Walmart lol I swear I’ve met you before
Do you recommend an all in one barefoot shoe? I really want one for running, weight training, outdoor hiking, work, and just day to day?
I really want to buy one set that does it all. The vivo primus ones seems interesting to me
I think for most activities, the Prios would work well. I cant say much about hiking though, perhaps you might want another pair for that .
on amazon amzn.to/3Fl3okv
or their website, some times they have deals geni.us/9rDOZ
where shohed you start?
When switching from a larger heel drop shoe to a lower heel drop shoe, would you recommend going to something like a 4mm drop first and then later on going to a 0mm drop? Or is it fine to go to a 0mm drop straight away and slowly work up mileage and get used to them? I have patellofemoral pain and am thinking of switching to a lower drop, but the thought of going straight to a 0mm drop is intimidating, but maybe it's worth it?
I think 0 mm is fine. In my experience, the body is pretty intuitive in terms of making the changes to gait pattern. Just take it slow and work up the time wearing them
I did a lot of barefoot walking before running barefoot. My first barefoot 5k race was great (got a faster time), except for the calf pain for a couple of days afterwards. It sure made my knee problem fade away though. Now I even do 10k races in bare feet.
years back I got a pair of vivobarefoot hiking shoes... They were too thin. Like socks with tread on the bottom.
they might have been fine if all the terrain around here was soft, sandy, grassy.. but it's all jagged rocks or hot asphalt.
So I hiked and ran those shoes to death and when all was said and done my feet and knees had the same amount of issues as when I switched.. different issues, but still.. issues..
After that, I switched to Altra. Now Altra is about the only shoe I'll buy. The thicker sole and better design of altra makes all the difference in the world.
I wonder how tribespeople cope
Started to get debilitating bunion pain in my right foot almost 5 years ago. Switched to barefoot shoes and have not had anywhere near as much pain. It only returns after an extended period in "normal" shoes
Pray ! Jesus came to set the captive free. From sin and sickness. Repent and believe !
Mild/moderate bunions do correct themselves when you switch to wide/roomy shoes but it happens slowly over years.
Cuanto dura la suela de unas zapatillas de este tipo?
Hey bro thanks
i wear vivo's ...but if i don't wear them, i'm using the ball of my foot apposed to heal striking when walking
I'm going to be asking my doctor in a couple weeks if he thinks changing to barefoot would improve my knees and lower back. I'm looking at pairs of shoes and there are some pretty decent looking ones for the price of 60 bucks. It looks super cheap to just to try for a while
see if I'm wrong, 5:46 in this part you are not putting the weight on your foot completely and making use of the heel of the shoe. The tennis heel is just forcing you to stand on your toes and giving you more stability in the squat. If you look at that minute 5:46, your heel comes off the ground. I think if you squat while raising your heel the result would be the same. It makes sense?
I (30yo cis male) was 15 years old when I started transitioning from wearing shoes. At that point I had sustained at least one injury every cross country and track season. Making the switch is what finally allowed me to run without having to worry about the various issues that plagued me.
Given 15 years to think about how the transition affected me, I have some advice:
Take your time. This isn't an overnight thing.
It doesn't even happen in the space of a month. Give yourself 3-6 months to build up the muscle groups that will allow you to walk and run on the balls of your feet as opposed to the heel.
A friend from HS also made the switch at the same time as me, he ramped up in about a month, got injured, and didn't get to run any races that cross country season. Meanwhile I spent the entire summer working out my feet, and never had an issue. But you WILL be sore.
Flex and splay your toes often. Pick things up between your toes. You will appreciate the extra dexterity and strength that comes with it. As you progress you may start to notice a gap between your big and index toes reminiscent of other, more arboreal primates. I am unsure what caused this, though it may be that I was transitioning during formative years and liked to carry large rocks between my toes. ; P
People will say strange things to you if you go fully barefoot. "Where are your shoes?", "Do you know you aren't wearing shoes?", "Isn't it cold like that?!", "Bro you're savage OoO". Just smile and speak with dignity. Being too gungho about this will create strong feelings of disdain or dislike in others. Better to let them decide to look into it or just have a fun story about the crazy barefoot person.
DO NOT recommend the transition to others if you aren't a trained medical professional. It's a hard thing to do, it can be very dangerous in some environments. If someone expresses interest in the transition, give them what info you can, encourage them to really think about it. It really does take up a lot of time and energy. It requires a great deal of dedication.
Always watch where you're walking. You may find that glass is not as dangerous as you may have thought, especially if you have thick callousing, but various plants and manmade objects can be very sharp. Aging asphalt is not your friend. Medium sized gravel is the worst. It's too thick to feel massaging, and too small to support enough weight not to be prickly.
Good luck, and if you join the family, welcome. ^ _ ^
Somehow I forgot to mention: I transitioned with Vibrams. Wore them for about a year, forgot them to practice on Halloween and decided to do the short run that day without them, never looked back. Vibrams are my formal wear now. XD
@@wandererjiyuren661 Thank you for sharing your experience!
What do people do in cold climate areas, with frost and snow? Do you still wear your barefoot shoes in that weather? Thanks.
I believe there are barefoot style boots available