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Have you ever walked barefoot on a dirt road? Walking barefoot has the effect of applying pressure to the entire sole of the foot, promoting blood circulation and activating metabolism, which benefits the ‘inner health’ that is not visible. The once popular barefoot walking is gaining renewed attention, with people flocking to good walking spots on weekends. We looked into the correct way to walk barefoot, things to be mindful of, and the benefits one can gain from walking.
The trend of ‘Earthing’ – Feeling nature with bare feet
The number of ‘Earthing’ enthusiasts (a compound word combining ‘earthing’ meaning barefoot walking and ‘tribe’ meaning group) who exercise while feeling nature with their bare feet is increasing. Barefoot walking, which was once perceived as a domain exclusive to the elderly, has expanded to the younger generation and has now become an exercise enjoyed by people of all ages and genders.
The charm of barefoot walking
Online communities are teeming with people flocking to places hailed as the mecca of barefoot trekking every weekend. The freedom that comes from taking off your shoes and the comfort of fully experiencing nature could be said to be the charm of barefoot walking. As more and more testimonials are shared about people recovering from various ailments through barefoot walking, the number of people taking up barefoot walking as an exercise has exploded.
The foot, often referred to as the second heart
The foot is a very important part of the body, often referred to as the second heart, with over 100 ligaments, muscles, and nerves maintaining balance. Walking barefoot strengthens the bones, muscles, and ligaments of the foot, forms arches, and stimulates various parts of the foot, enhancing overall sensory and functional strength.
What happens if you walk barefoot every day?
What happens if you walk barefoot every day? Firstly, you lose weight. Especially when walking barefoot, not only does the sensation in your feet develop, but your muscles also become stronger, allowing you to feel more than twice the effect compared to wearing sneakers. It also lowers bad cholesterol and neutral fat levels, helping to prevent cardiovascular diseases.
Helps alleviate depression
Barefoot walking also helps alleviate depression. As you walk barefoot, looking at the scenery of the forest, smelling the scent of the soil, and stimulating various sensory organs such as sight, smell, and touch, feelings of anxiety and depression are alleviated. Also, breathing in fresh air and basking in the sun stimulate the secretion of the happiness hormone ‘serotonin’.
Joints and ligaments,
Can be strained
However, no matter how healthy a person is, there are precautions to be taken when walking barefoot. Overdoing it can strain the joints, ligaments, and tendons. When wearing shoes, the pressure on the joints when walking or running is dispersed, but when walking barefoot, the weight is directly focused on the ankles and knee joints, which can cause pain or damage to the ligaments.
Improves posture
For people who wear shoes every day that do not fit their feet well or are worn unevenly, the shoes can put a lot of strain on their feet and force them to maintain a restricted posture. When you walk barefoot, you can stand and walk more naturally, which is good for balancing your body and enhancing the sensation in your feet, helping to improve your posture.
Diabetics Beware
If you have diabetes, small wounds or blisters on your feet can spread to ulcers and lead to complications. Therefore, you should be careful about walking barefoot. Also, people with flat feet or skin problems like athlete’s foot should refrain from walking barefoot as it can worsen the pain.
Instead of walking on urethane tracks at stadiums,
Walk on dirt roads
When walking barefoot, there is a risk of injury, so it is better to walk on dirt, pebbles, or tree roots in forest paths or parks created with dirt roads than on cement, asphalt, or urethane roads. The soles of the feet are one of the most sensitive parts of the body, so even walking for just 10 minutes a day can have a therapeutic effect. It is better to gradually increase the time rather than walking for a long time from the start.
Get a tetanus shot in advance
Walking barefoot can cause contaminated wounds on the skin if there are stones, glass fragments, or other dangerous materials on the ground. Always check if there are dangerous materials on the ground where you are walking, and if you find any, put on your shoes immediately. If you get pricked by a nail or a piece of iron, you could get tetanus, so getting a tetanus shot in advance is a good idea.
Written by: Shin Young press@daily.co.kr
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