The importance of being barefoot - part 2 of 7

Neural pathways send efferent signals from the brain to the foot muscles to adjust the base of support (our feet) with micro adjustments in intrinsic foot muscles. If feet are consistently in shoes and on flat surfaces, the kinesiological response will be adjusted for that. Bare feet send detailed sensory perception information about stimuli. The soles of our feet act as the displacement region for the Center of Pressure (CoP). Center of Pressure directly impacts balance. Healthy individuals subconsciously and continually move the Center of Mass (all our body weight) within the CoP in order to maintain balance control. Winter (1995) argued that the Center of Pressure and Center of Mass are directly affected by a person’s foot activity. A displacement of either CoP or CoM will affect balance because the Center of Mass shifts depending on where the Center of Pressure falls. Both evertor and inverter activity of the foot will change CoP and CoM. Therefore, healthy anatomy of the foot is integral for proportionate displacement of the Center of Pressure and optimal balance control, whether standing or moving. Going barefoot regularly enhances the accuracy of this neural feedback loop, which results in better balance and motor control. Oltman (2019) notes that this is particularly important as children grow and develop, and for the elderly to improve balance, and avert falling.

Being barefoot allows muscles and tendons of the feet to load, splay, recoil, and step with shock absorbing bounce (Vivobarefoot, 2019). Barefeet promote more natural movement. Micro-adjustments in foot drop and strike during gait pattern can be made, improving fine motor control, as opposed to muffled feedback from shod feet. Gallett (2015) notes the importance of feeling the proprioceptive feedback from the ground below, and feeling the action of articulation which improves cognition of feet. When more peripheral nerves are stimulated in the foot, this increases the neurons in the brain, and leads to enhanced sensitivity and better circulation throughout the foot and in particular between the metatarsals. The barefoot sensation helps to improve balance and alignment from feet to head, increase strength in feet and allows for a more natural movement, helping young feet grow healthy and strong.