Are Barefoot Shoes Good for You?

I actually do really like going barefoot! I just want everyone to do it safely and practically! Related Videos: Plantar Fasciitis Treatment: https://youtu.be/6kFBwwZNmR8 Hammer Toe Exercises: https://youtu.be/pA4dicQIzLY Bunion Pain Treatment: https://youtu.be/Nfif1nEiNJk Capsulitis pain treatment: https://youtu.be/D284KRgp1r0 👉-- LINKS --👈 (With some links, we use affiliate links and may earn a commission. Check with your doctor before using any product!) Barefoot Shoes: Get BirchBury Barefoot Dress Shoes: birchbury.com/?ref=oevj36w3gd (Affiliate Link) Men's Best Seller Barefoot: geni.us/WhitinBarefoot Women's Best Seller Barefoot: geni.us/JoomraBarefoot High Rated Budget Barefoot: geni.us/BudgetBarefootShoe Best Flat Feet Arch Supports: Best Overall Orthotic: geni.us/PowerStepOrthotics (Amazon) Best Heavy Duty Orthotic: geni.us/HeavyDutyOrthotics (Amazon) Best Women’s Orthotic: geni.us/BestWomensOrthotic (Amazon) Best Affordable 3/4 Orthotic: geni.us/ShortLengthOrthotics (Amazon) Best sub $25 Soft Orthotic: geni.us/BudgetSoftOrthotic (Amazon) Best sub $25 Budget Orthotic: geni.us/BudgetOrthotic (Amazon) Orthofeet Insoles: geni.us/OrthofeetInsole Flat Feet Stretching: Best Budget Stretching Device: geni.us/BudgetFasciitisStretch Good Ankle & Calf Stretching Device: geni.us/AnkleStretchingBoard Best Hamstring & Knee Stretch Device: geni.us/BestHamstringStretch Good Soft Stretch Splint: geni.us/SoftStretchSplint Good Hard Stretch Splint geni.us/HardNightSplint 👉 Shoes 👈 Best Shoes: www.michiganfootdoctors.com/podiatrist-recommended… Orthofeet Shoes & Orthofeet Discount Codes: geni.us/Orthofeet Best Orthotics: www.michiganfootdoctors.com/podiatrist-recommended… Best Products: www.michiganfootdoctors.com/recommended-products/ 📢Come See Us in Detroit, Michigan, Berkley Michigan; Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Lansing Michigan; and Grand Blanc Michigan📢 If you are in Michigan, consider seeing us at our clinic: www.michiganfootdoctors.com/. g.page/r/CaxJ9b-O6o27EAE DISCLAIMER: Dr. Tomasz Biernacki received his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from Kent State College of Podiatric Medicine in 2013; he completed his Surgical Reconstructive Foot Surgery & Podiatric Medicine Residency in 2017; he completed 2x traveling Fellowships in Diabetic Surgery, Skin Grafting & Nerve Surgery. He is double board certified in Podiatric Medicine and Foot & Ankle Surgery. Dr. Biernacki is a licensed podiatrist & surgeon in Michigan. This video should not be used to self-diagnose and is not a substitute for a medical exam, cure, treatment, diagnosis, prescription, or recommendation. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship between Dr. Biernacki and you. It would be best to not change your health regimen or diet before consulting a physician and obtaining a medical exam & diagnosis. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical cond

Do yourself a favor, if you are in pain try all your options and take it slowly. Took me 2 years to get my wife to try barefoot shoes because she doesn't like the way they look. In her 40's and suffering from knee, hip and back pain most of her life. I've watched her struggle with it for 30 years myself. Finally got her to try them, and for the last almost 2 years, she refuses to wear anything but barefoot shoes now, even though she still doesn't like the way they look. Her knee/hip/back pain is 99% gone from the day she started wearing them. It's crazy. Of course, this may not be the same for you but might be worth a try. No, you don't need to be healthy first for them to help you. But you have to proceed with caution, I can say from experience, too much too soon can lead to setbacks. The last time I went to a foot doctor they immediately told me that barefoot shoes are really bad for you, no explanation, just blanket statement. There seems to be a stigma in the profession, maybe because they only see the people who had a problem with them, not the thousands of people who are doing well. That's just our experience. Appreciate the content.

I'm 57 and I bought some low end barefoot shoes for walking around the house. What I immediately noticed was my balance is significantly better inmy barefoot shoes than my padded shoes. I've been walking in my socks more than I ever had and on occasion my soles will become sore but the barefoot shoes are heaven for my feet right now.

What is interesting to me is that all of the possible injuries related to barefoot shoes that you mentioned, I already had, with regular shoes. Extreme ball of the foot pain and plantar fasciitis were by far the worst. I couldn't walk to the mailbox with shoes one. I noticed it basically over night with my left foot. Pain with shoes, no pain in the mornings without shoes. Flap cheap flip flops were fine. Running shoes, work shoes, boots, nope! Barefoot shoes were what I went to and there was no pain. But the issue wasn't gone because if I put regular shoes back on it still hurt. Four months later and the pain seems to be gone even when I put on regular shoes, but I think I'll stick with barefoot because it is working for me. I know that is anecdotal, but my feet feel better.

Yes, they are absolutely amazing. My feet and legs have never been stronger, my posture has never been better, after a year of using them.

Honestly. After I had my 5th baby my body hurt. My joints and feet and I just felt so heavy. Took up running. Kept getting injured. Finally just got so tired of shoes not fitting correctly I bought a 10 dollar pair of barefoot socks online and everything stopped hurting. My legs and feet are strong as hell now running is also easier.

I go barefoot in the house because it makes me more stable when my feet connect with the surface I am walking on. I wear good shoes outside when I walk to protect my feet. Works for me.

When people talk about barefoot runners and other countries like Africa, they’re not trying to say that they’re faster than us. They’re trying to show that these people can run barefoot for miles without problems. We’re not trying to Usain Bolt here. They are showing what a natural foot looks like when you don’t cram them into a shoe your whole life. I think you completely missed the point. Edit: I noticed you replied to someone else about the same comment. Why bring up some thing that was talked about 15 years ago? Points that were made that long ago are irrelevant to what people are saying today. I have seen very few barefoot shoe advocates claim that it will make you faster or superhuman in someway. Yes there are some people that go too far but the vast majority of barefoot shoe Youtubers we talk about the potential risks. One of the main things that’s brought up every time we talk about barefoot shoes is that vibom was sued because they made claims that they couldn’t prove. We’ve gotten past this and you’re acting as if we’re still saying this stuff. The vast majority of barefoot advocates give fair warnings that you should go slow and start with shoes that work for you until you’re able to fully transition. my mom wears Ultas. They are wide in the toe and zero drop but they have cushion. If Youtubers weren’t giving fair warning, she would’ve went straight to barefoot shoes and hurt herself. But she didn’t because YouTuber warn you of the potential risks and older people shoe that they could use to transition slower. And I have even seen a lot of these Youtubers tell some older people that it might not be possible. 100% being barefoot is better for you in the long run. But if you’ve put your feet into crush shoes, your entire life and you’ve walked in a weird way then of course you’re gonna have a hard time. People in those situations need more intense therapy. Of course you can’t expect a 60 to 80 year old to be able to do this when they’ve been wearing pointy shoes with a heal lift their whole lives.

It surprises me to hear that some people get more pain. When I switched over to barefoot shoes, I almost immediately got rid of all of my knee and ankle pain. Now I did this transition at 28 so maybe that made it easier. But it’s crazy to hear that some people end up having more pain. Almost everything about my feet ankles and knees feel better than they used to. the only problem I’m having is that I have two little toes that point inward towards my middle toe. I could be wrong about this, but it seems to be causing some of my left knee pain and ankle pain. But my right leg and foot have never felt better and I have no pain. I agree that if you start barefoot shoes, you should probably do it slowly. my mom started off with wide to zero drop shoes, but they still have the cushion. She started this transition at 55 so she has a lot harder time. Personally I would recommend everybody to do barefoot shoes unless you’re so old and your feet are so messed up that you can’t do the transition. I imagine an 80 year-old is going to have a really hard time fixing 80 years of destroying their feet. If you do transition, just be careful. Assess how bad your feet are to begin with and go from there. There are options as crazy as the five fingers or normal options like the ones, my mom wears. Either way, I think everybody could benefit from at least some form of barefoot shoe. If you can get the very least get a wide toolbox and I think that’s better for you.

You used that opener in another video too, runners in super shoes win races over the natural runners. Sure, Motorcycle driver smoke Bicycle riders too. But whats better for the body? Nobody goes barefooot to be the fastest, obviously.

I started wearing barefoot shoes two years ago. Have the vibram five fingers, various zaqq, and various merrell vapor gloves. I’d say the greatest thing about them is the wide toebox. I didn’t really care that much about the zero drop or flexible sole. I’ve recently tried Lem’s and Altra shoes. I’d take those over minimalist barefoot shoes any day. They basically give you a super wide toebox but have plenty of cushioning as well. Walking long distances with the thin sole just puts a lot of stress on my heel, since I walk with a heel strike and that hasn’t changed over the two years as some people claimed it would.

I'm middle aged, wonky, significantly hypermobile and overweight. I use barefoot shoes and have for years. Barefoot shoes for me mean less foot, ankle, knee, hips and neck pain. I've tried custom orthotics, they reduced foot pain (not as much as barefoot) but increased the pain in my ankle, knee, hips and especially my neck to the point of being unbearable. Less pain tells me that despite being all the things you warned about and a couple more, they are a good idea for me.

When one goes 'barefoot,' it's hard to 'toe' the line! Interesting breakdown, thank you Dr. Tom, and Team MFD!

Great video. I wear barefoot shoes, the Vivo barefoot, I also wear Altra shoes, both for the same reason, the wide toebox. I'm always barefoot at home, I have extremely wide feet and the regular 2E or 4E sizes in major brands do not deliver as the toebox remains too narrow. I'm weary of walking long distances with my Vivos as I have flat feet and I think a bit of support would be less taxing.

I flip from vivobarefoot shoes too on cloud for walking. Sidewalks are tough with barefoot shoes on, better for forgiving ground.

I suffer with peripheral neuropathy. How do I find wide toe box walking shoes that aren't barefoot shoes and have sufficient cushioning for my 61 yo feet?

I do agree that those shoe commercials are totally misleading and are just like al others in the shoe industry out for profits and not your health. there ae very easy and safe ways to transition to walking or running barefoot as we should be but the problem is that most think they can switch instantly.

Honesty. Thanks.

OK, I'm 68 years old, a practicing martial artist so I am barefoot on the mats a lot. Around the house, I'm usually barefoot, even though being a well controlled diabetic I should wear shoes all the time. In reality I wear shoes outside. I do not have any hip, knee or other issues and am in pretty good shape. Not interested in running, just day to day walking around. These barefoot shoes interest me but the information I am seeing has me on the fence. In your opinion and I a viable candidate for this type shoes. Any suggestions or comment would be appreciated.

How can I get my gait analyzed with a bio-mechanical exam and get on a walking program? I’m active, but I’ve recently had a debilitating case of plantar fasciitis and now have occasional knee pain when walking. I’ve called, text and emailed your office, with no answer.