It is all the more Australian to take off your shoes and touch the ground under your feet. It could be a walk on the shore, a run to the mail box or even a quick run to the local stores, but walking barefoot is almost a cultural thing among the people in Australia. However, as the podiatrists who are available to the Narellan community, we do get a lot of patients who have got foot issues that would have been avoided in case they had a little more knowledge on when to go bare footed and when to wear shoes.
The Australian Barefoot Culture
Have you ever had a question as to why Australians are always home to take off their shoes in a social place? Well, you are not the only one. The sight of a person, who walks without shoes in Woolies or Coles, also surprises the foreigners. It belongs to our relaxing lifestyle, and in various ways, it is a part of our closeness to the outdoors and beach culture that is part and parcel of the Australian life.
But, the idea of a cultural acceptance does not necessarily mean that you should go with something that is the most appropriate to your foot health. As podiatrists, we would like to make you realize about the compromise between the liberty of walking barefoot and keeping your feet safe against possible damages.
The Benefits of Going Barefoot (Sometimes)
It is only appropriate that we first note that it is not all bad about walking barefoot since we are about to examine the dangers of this habit. As a matter of fact, there are real virtues when applied in the appropriate manner and environments.
You can help to strengthen intrinsic muscles in the feet by walking with clean and safe surfaces at home. These are small muscles that help you to sustain the arch, enhance the balance and generally the entire feet activity. These muscles get a little lazy when you are always putting on supportive shoes and therefore a little time indoors on your bare feet can help.
Also, you can walk on bare feet and your feet can move more naturally, and this may enhance proprioception. It is the capacity of your body to know its position in the space and the higher the proprioception the higher the balance and coordination. Some barefoot play will help healthy development of the feet, especially in children.
The important one here is the word appropriate. Playing around with your feet in your living room is a great contrast to walking barefoot on the hot concrete or in a rough environment.
When Barefoot Walking Becomes Risky
The problem we see in our Narellan clinic isn’t so much the occasional barefoot moment, it’s the extended periods of unprotected foot exposure that lead to injuries and complications.
Sharp Objects and Lacerations
Australia can be described as a beautiful country, but its outdoor space does not necessarily permit people to walk. The unprotected feet face actual threats of broken glass, sharp rocks, pieces of metals and even thorns. We have resolved so many patients who have had serious cuts on their feet because they stepped on the hidden dangers whilst walking through the streets without shoes.
These are not only those injuries that are painful at the time. Foot cuts may get infected, and even need stitches, and in other cases, may be susceptible to complications that take weeks or months to properly heal. Not only do foreign objects become entrenched in skin but in some cases they are not noticed for long and thus result in constant irritation or infection.
Surface Temperature Hazards
Summers in Australia are inhumane and that does not spare the floor beneath our feet. Hot concrete, bitumen and even sand may have temperatures that lead to actual burns. During the warmer seasons, we commonly attend patients who have blistered and got burnt walking with bare feet on the hot surfaces.
In winter, on the other hand, it may happen that when one walks on cold floors with bare feet, one can develop chilblains, a painful condition that develops in the small blood vessels in your skin as a result of cold exposure. It is common especially during the cooler seasons around Narellan when the temperatures are lower in the morning.
Impact-Related Injuries
Not only protect your feet against external risks, but also cushion and absorb shocks, your shoes do not only serve this purpose. Whenever you walk or run without wearing a pair of shoes, the pressure is directly registered on your feet, ankles, knees and all the way to your hips and lower back.
This recurring force has the potential to lead to stress fractures, pains in the joints, worsen an underlying condition such as plantar fasciitis or even arthritis over time with the lack of cushioning. The danger is even greater when you start doubling the number of feet that you walk without bare a few days without giving your body time to adjust.
Infectious Risks
Exposure to fungal infection, plantar warts, and bacterial infection increases tremendously by walking without shoes in the streets. There is also sharing of facilities such as public showers, change rooms and pool decks which harbor organisms that result into conditions such as athlete feet and verrucae.
Although you may have acquired a thicker skin due to frequent practice of walking without shoes, this does not give you immunity against infectious agents. Actually, any minute cracks on the skin can serve as access points by bacteria and fungi.
The Myth of Toughening Up Your Feet.
Some people think that when the feet are frequently walked barefoot it will harden them up to the extent that they will provide some protection to the feet. Although the fact that the sole of your feet will become thick and have calluses since you exposed your feet to the bare ground on multiple occasions is true, it does not make your feet indestructible.
Even thickened skin and calluses may create their problems. The callus may accumulate too much and be painful, cracking and causing painful fissures, which are likely to become infected. Moreover, you cannot be safe enough against sharp objects, extreme temperatures, and forces of impact as we have discussed before, even with the skin thickening.
Special Provisions on behalf of some Groups.
Other individuals should be especially careful with walking unshod as a result of underlying health problems or life factors.
People with Diabetes
Walking without shoes is really unsafe, especially in case of diabetic patients. Diabetic neuropathy may decrease the sensation in your feet so that you may not realize that you are injured until it is too late to do anything. In addition, diabetes can have issues with wound circulation and wound healing and even minor cuts and blisters can cause severe complications.
Individuals with Circulatory Issues
Poor circulation has a negative impact on the healing of wounds. When you have peripheral vascular disease or other circulatory problems, then it is necessary to take care of your feet by using proper footwear.
Pregnant Women
When pregnant, you have higher chances of falling because you change the centre of gravity and also hormones may become loose, thus loosening the ligaments. This is the period as well that it is more vital to safeguard your feet with supportive shoes.
Older Adults
As we get older, our skin becomes thinner, our bones become hard and the balance becomes our natural way of doing things. These developments render walking barefooted more perilous to the aged Australians. Falls and injuries become more severe with age, which is why the right footwear is a good decision.
Transitioning to More Barefoot Time Safely
In case you want to spend more time without shoes to make your feet stronger, there is the right way to do it. The trick is to make the shift in phases and make your choices of environments.
Begin with 20 to 30 minutes a day at home on safe and clean surfaces with bare feet. You can gradually raise this time over a number of weeks and your feet will gradually change to the new duration. Watch out about any pains, and do not overdo it.
It is good to consider undergoing certain exercises that strengthen the feet, but not to depend on walking on the barefoot to gain strength. Feat exercises such as heel raises, toe curls, and marble pickups are effective in making the feet stronger under controlled safe manner.
The Barefoot Running Trend
It would be wrong of us not to mention barefoot running that has gained popularity in the recent years. Although it is more natural and it may help to minimize the injury, the truth behind this is more complex.
Compared to walking, running places a lot of pressure on your feet the average weight per stride is about three times your body weight. The danger of acute injuries and problems of overuse is significantly larger without the cushion and support offered by running shoes.
We highly recommend that you begin with minimalist footwear instead of going barefoot in case you want to know more about barefoot running. Even in this case, the transition must be out of this world gradual, and you are well advised to consult a podiatrist, who can examine your foot business and tell you whether it suits you or not.
Practical Guidelines for Safer Barefoot Walking
Assuming that you will carry on the Australian culture of walking on bare feet, these tips will work in your favour and reduce the chances of being harmed:
Before taking off your shoes always check around you. Search after the visible dangers such as glass, sharp rocks, or sloppy surfaces. At the beach be aware of shells, bluebottles or sea creatures that are hidden.
Always keep a pair of thongs or slip on shoes with you in case you get at a situation where the ground is difficult or uncomfortable. This is quite essential during the summer when it is possible to come across surfaces that are scorching hot.
Always ensure that the ground temperature is alright before you can invest in walking bare. When it is too hot or cold to touch with your hands it is too extreme to touch with your feet.
Restrict the use of bare feet on surfaces that are hard such as concrete or bitumens. These hard floors raise the impact of forces on your feet and joints.
Wash your feet, in particular, when you have been walking around in bare feet. Cleanse your feet and inspect them checking on any lacerations, blisters, or infections.
Have your tetanus shot up to date. When walking with bare feet out of doors often there is always a risk of treading on something which will bring bacteria into a wound.
When to See a Podiatrist
If your feet are sore and painful or when you have experienced any foot related changes following a walk in bare feet, you need to make an appointment with a podiatrist. We are able to examine your foot structure, what problems are evolving, as well as give individualised recommendations on shoes and foot care.
Our Narellan clinic is here to assist you in keeping your feet healthy, comfortable and yet not lose out on the things in the Australian lifestyle that are important to you. You may have an injury involving the foot and need treatment, or you may need guidance to the right type of shoes, or you may need assistance in the management of a long-term foot problem, we are prepared to offer professional assistance.
Finding the Right Balance
Living in Australia is special because of walking barefoot. This is not to say that you do not go barefoot, but rather to wear the shoes that will get you in the right place at the right time. Being aware of the risks and taking reasonable precautions and listening to your feet, one can have the freedom of wearing bare shoes now and then without losing the health of your feet.
Keep in mind, that your feet make you through life. They deserve to be sheltered, fostered and admired. In case you have any questions concerning the health of your feet or you want to receive individual recommendations regarding naked foot walking, our personnel of Narellan is never too distant. Healthy feet will keep you doing everything that is good in our beautiful region and that is with or without shoes.
Wondering if walking barefoot is right for your feet? Book an appointment with Narellan Foot Clinic and get expert podiatry advice today.
FAQs:
Is it really that bad to quickly duck down to the shops barefoot?
The emerging quick drive will not lead to any significant scandals, but the car parks may contain glass shards and pavements may get scalding during the summer. At the least have a pair of thongs in the automobile or by the front door. Only two seconds, and may make you a lot of grief.
My kids are always running around barefoot in the backyard. Should I make them wear shoes?
Children who play in the safety of a familiarized backyard, barefooted, is often alright and can be an excellent exercise to their immature feet. Only look in the yard, bindiis, sharp sticks, or anyhow. Running on grass is also different to running on concrete/ gravel. Watch out about cuts, and make them put on shoes in the streets.
I’ve been walking barefoot for years and never had a problem. Why should I change now?
And, if it has worked, then all the better. But our feet change as we age. Skin becomes thinner, healing slower and diseases such as diabetes may creep in. What is good at the moment may not necessarily be. When you begin to observe any pain or alteration of your feet, make an appointment. It is easier to prevent than to treat.
Does walking barefoot actually strengthen your feet, or is that just a myth?
There’s some truth to it. Small muscles of the feet that are used when walking on safe surfaces can be strengthened. You do not have to go the entire distance and become a complete barefoot warrior, even by doing such simple things as walking around your house or performing some foot exercises. The issues begin as individuals assemble on the shelf to make unexpected long walks on the hard surfaces with bare feet. In case you need to strengthen feet, then do it slowly and wisely.
