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These days, the barefoot shoe, a foot-shaped minimalistic shoe with little or no sole has captured the attention of the health-conscious crowd. Proponents of barefoot shoes are quick to tout their benefits, claiming that they improve posture, gait, and overall foot and leg health by allowing us to walk as nature intended. But is there any merit to these claims? Is it wise for everyone to trade in their traditional footwear for these seemingly unconventional shoes? The answer, as it turns out, is far from straightforward, and to fully comprehend it, we must first delve into the labyrinthine history of shoes.
The Crakow was a peculiar shoe style from 15th-century Europe featuring toes of an outrageous length. They were named after the then capital city of Poland Krakow, where the style is believed to have originated from. Some historians postulate that the upper echelons of society sported these slender shoes as a status symbol, since the working class was unable to wear them because of their natural and wider foot shape that had resulted from years of hard labor. Archeological evidence shows that elites in Medieval Europe had foot deformities such as bunions resulting from this footwear.
A leather Crakow | Wikimedia Commons
X-ray of foot-bound | Shutterstock
In Imperial China, a comparable but more radical fashion emerged, one that involved foot binding. Chinese women would tightly bind their feet so that they could fit into tight shoes. Like the Crakow, Foot binding, also a status symbol and beauty signifier, continued until its prohibition in 1912.
Fast forward to modern times, and we see the continued prevalence of pointy shoe designs in high heels, dress shoes, and even running shoes, solely for their aesthetic appeal.
Barefoot shoes undoubtedly offer the feet unrestricted mobility, akin to how our ancestors walked on natural, soft surfaces such as grass and mud. However, their lack of sole presents a crucial issue. In contemporary times, we traverse on hard, flat surfaces like pavement and tile, necessitating padding and protection to protect our feet and joints from damage.
Additionally, barefoot shoes may not be the best option in certain situations, such as public restrooms or other dangerous or messy places such as a laboratory.
While barefoot shoes indeed serve as an excellent choice for those seeking to enhance toe and foot mobility, they're hardly a universal solution. They suit only a niche group of people who hike or spend more time in nature. For the average person, they may not be so practical.
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