Modern research confirms that going barefoot outweighs any risks in most situations. Why don't folks listen?The health benefits have been documented in numerous studies throught the past 30 years. The conditions and diseases prevented BY FAR outweigh the additional injury risk assumed.
This has been published in the medical literature, as related to foot conditions, knee problems, hip disorders, spinal issues, and more.
Some of these studies mention that western culture will not see going barefoot everywhere as socialy appropriate, and that we are doomed to suffer the consequences as a result.
Why are Americans and other Western cultures that claim to be very health conscous so reluctant to adopt this healthier alternative to shoe wearing when they are so used to seeing feet already anyway due to the popularity of sandals and flip flops?
How much of a social stretch would it be to just accept going barefoot for health, comfort, and simplicity? (Not to mention economy)
Is it just the notion that bare feet imply poverty, or is there more to it?
Johanna wrote: "... You must be thebarefootinquisitor, huh?..."
No, Johanna, that's not me. I've read some of those thousands of simple questions, and don't find them very thought provoking.
I am a full time barefoot person, enjoying the health benefits and comfort, not to mention pleasure, that really finds it difficult to believe the reluctance of others to just take the healthier choice.
I also maintain a healthy weight, excercise daily, don't smoke, and try to excercise my mind daily as well.
From reading the "inquisitor's" questions answered, I am shocked at how close minded so many people are about this issue.
It is the responses to his questions that have sent me on this quest to find out the reasons for their outdated beliefs.
- Johanna
I'm inside and barefoot as usual. It's cold and rainy today, so if I went outside shoeless I'd probably catch a cold. One HOT summer day I went barefoot down to the lake, across rocks, and scorched my feet badly. There are many reasons to wear shoes, and humanity has been doing it for a long time. You must be thebarefootinquisitor, huh?
- ohioan_femme
I am usually barefoot whenever I am inside the house.
What else is new? Science confirmed that being fat and smoking is bad. Why don't people listen? You tell me.
- eyikoluvsandy
After walking my dog, and cleaning up after him/being at the bus stop and watching people piss and spit and vomit all over the ground, in addition to the broken glass and whatever else is out there, you won't catch ME walking around outside with no shoes on.
- Serena
I'm barefoot every moment possible. You can't go into a store without foot protection -- too many opportunities to step in something and get hurt. I wear special shoes that hug my feet and provide shock absorption when I do wear shoes. The "shoes" that most gals wear are definitely worse than being barefoot, you're right. But I don't see women changing what is considered "attractive" because there are too many in "competition" to get a "good man" -- whatever their criteria.
My granddad was so uncomfortable in shoes that his only specific request at his death is that he be buried in a suit, but barefoot. I'm just like him, as are all the people in my family directly descended from him (with one exception: my brother had foot problems as a baby and had to wear corrective shoes for about 18 months. He never got over the lack of calluses on his feet enough to "create" them.)
Barefoot = comfort
I would go barefoot to classes in college when it was raining. I went to the restroom before class and used paper towels to dry my feet. I would take simple sandals to get over the rule of needing shoes, but I would take them off the moment class was over. I got sick because my shoes and socks got soaking wet one summer day and -- with the A/C cranked up too high -- I got a chill and then a sinus infection. That's when I decided it was better to get stares than to get sick again if I had a way around it. I didn't get sick in college again.
Also wanted to let you know BIG MONEY is the reason Americans don't know how much better it is to go barefoot because our shoe companies have convinced even doctors that going barefoot damages your feet, knees, hips, etc. I'm living proof that is not true. But shoes have become such a large part of our culture that it would take an amazing effort to get people to stop focusing on them.
- Sheriam
When you've always worn shoes, even a small round pebble hurts and thus people have a hard time believing that if they'd only go barefoot for a while longer, their feet would toughen up enough so that glass and thorns are no longer a problem. Their own (shod) experiences are just so far off that they don't think they can ever handle it again.
But most importantly, people don't want to listen to anything that is too far out of their comfort range; they're used to wearing shoes, everyone else does it, you could guarantee them they'd all be crippled at 50 and 98% would still keep wearing them unless everyone else went along with the barefoot thing first.
Orignal From: Knee Disorders: Modern research confirms that going barefoot outweighs any risks in most situations. Why don't folks listen?
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