Is exercising barefoot good for my feet?
Ask the doctor
Q. I throw off my shoes as often as I can during the summer, and that goes for walks and bike treks around my neighborhood. But my husband says doing so might not be healthy for my feet. Is that true?
A. Being barefoot can feel liberating, and there’s nothing like walking barefoot on grass or a sandy beach. Being barefoot also improves something called proprioception, which is our body’s ability to sense its position in space. That said, exercising sans shoes can pose hazards both obvious and unseen. It also depends what kind of exercise you’re doing. It’s fine — and even encouraged — to do yoga or tai chi barefoot, and walking on a grassy field or the beach can help to gently stretch ligaments in the feet. Even pedaling a bike barefoot is usually fine, though it might hurt if the pedals are rough or spiky.
But walking on sidewalks or in other public areas can be hazardous, with lurking threats such as hot pavement, splinters, nails, or shards of broken glass. Running barefoot presents these perils as well, and because it’s a high-impact exercise, it can leave your feet vulnerable to stress fractures. When in doubt about the terrain you’ll encounter, don supportive, cushioned shoes or sneakers before you head outdoors.
Image: © DianaHirsch/Getty Images
About the Author
Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
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