Category: Health & Wellbeing

The evolution of our shoes - further development or risk to our health?

The human foot - it consists of 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments and 19 muscles and tendons that enable an incredible variety of movements. As one of the most stressed parts of the body, they carry us through the world throughout our lives.

Although we used to walk barefoot, we now wear shoes to protect our feet. This development began about 9,000 years ago when humans began wrapping animal skins and plant fibers around their feet.

Since then, shoes have evolved a lot: today we wear high-tech shoes with built-in suspension, shock-absorbing soles and heels.

However, unpublished studies repeatedly show why these supposed advances turn out to be serious problems in the long term .

(https://www.senmotic-shoes.com/information/researches/)

A study from the USA led by Geoffrey Keenan clearly shows how much wearing conventional shoes can affect our health .

In the study, 68 healthy athletes were put on a treadmill and filmed with special cameras to examine the effects on the stress on joints and bones . Half of the participants wore shoes and the other half went barefoot.

(https://www.senmotic-shoes.com/information/researches/)

Study shows: Running/walking barefoot significantly protects your knees, hips and joints and thus helps against pain and wear and tear.

The results of the study speak for themselves:

athletes who wore shoes were significantly more stressed on their hips, knees and ankles than barefoot runners.

The hips in particular were subjected to an average of 54 percent more stress in shoe runners than in barefoot runners. The knee joints were also 36-38 percent more stressed in professional runners who wore running shoes than in barefoot runners.

Incorrect footwear and the associated additional strain can cause various problems:

• Back pain (especially in the lower back area) 
• Foot pain & misalignments
• Knee and joint problems
• Pain in the hip area

To understand the negative impact of conventional shoes on our health, we need to take a closer look at the way we normally walk:

When walking barefoot, we touch down with the forefoot or midfoot first and then let the impact pass through different muscle groups and tendons cushion. This drastically minimizes the strain on our joints .

However, when we wear traditional shoes with heels, we no longer put the forefoot down, but automatically put down with the heel . Although a thicker sole is intended to provide a shock-absorbing effect, this puts much greater strain on our joints. Even cushioned running shoes can cause three times our body weight in strain!

By wearing shoes with raised soles, the muscles intended for a safe, stable stance are  no longer needed and atrophy . As a result, we have become accustomed to striking first on the ball of our foot instead of our forefoot. This creates additional strain, which over time can often lead to joint pain, poor posture or back pain .

When the muscles in the foot lose strength, there is an increased risk of common foot problems such as flat feet or arched-splay feet.

How can I protect my joints without having to go barefoot all the time?

Nowadays, shoes are indispensable in everyday life, for example in the city or when shopping in the supermarket.

However, there is a way to regain our natural, healthy way of walking without having to walk unprotected, barefoot, get strange looks, and potentially injure yourself on sharp objects.

The solution to this is barefoot shoes.

They have a very thin and flexible sole that allows the foot to roll naturally again and allows the foot the freedom of movement it needs.

These shoes also have no heels, which tends to restore normal walking behavior over the forefoot rather than the ball of the foot, thereby minimizing stress on the hips and joints .

One of the biggest advantages of barefoot shoes is that the muscles in the foot can be reactivated  and, in particular, pain can be effectively relieved.

Unlike conventional shoes, which promote incorrect foot posture and usually painfully constrict the foot, barefoot shoes allow the necessary freedom for maximum health.

Wearing barefoot shoes contributes significantly to straightening the instep and stabilizing our feet. At the same time , it improves position and reduces the strain on our joints .

Many people who try barefoot shoes no longer want to wear conventional shoes. They rave about a feeling of freedom and incomparable comfort. This natural gait is also much gentler on the knees and hips, can prevent injuries, and reduces pain.

In order to give you the optimal barefoot feeling and maximum health benefits, we have carefully examined and tested countless suppliers of barefoot shoes: Hike Footwear

emerged as the test winner  in terms of quality, functionality, price-performance and appearance.

Hike Footwear is a renowned barefoot shoe manufacturer with excellent quality - their highest priority is the implementation of the health benefits described above, which is why Hike Footwear is also the clear recommendation of the orthopedist!

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You can currently benefit from Hike Footwear's discount campaign for a short time and save up to 70% OFF on your first pair of barefoot shoes - so it's worth being quick!