Many people request that you leave your shoes in front of the home before you walk in. Others will leave their shoes on, while others prefer to go barefoot. Depending on your beliefs, you may think barefoot is better than wearing socks around the house for health reasons. Years ago, when I was involved with the Barefoot Running Society; they believed running barefoot was better for us, and when they promoted barefoot running, they meant it. Their beliefs were based on the book Born to Run which talked about the benefits of walking and running barefoot. Shod vs. barefoot. Barefoot is as it suggests. Shod means wearing shoes. Each has a different dynamic in how we walk, the tone of our foot and leg muscles, and the freedom of movement that is hampered by shoes. This is why one of the first things I check with people who have knee, foot, hip, or back pain is shoe fit. Most patients who have problems in their back or legs also have improperly fitted shoes which is an easy thing to correct with some easy instructions. In our society, we wear shoes. Shoes reduce the movement of the feet, although neurologically, the hands and the feet have similar neurology. Barefoot allows for more movement and muscular tone in the feet while shoes place the feet in a box during the day when we walk which reduces movement and even the dexterity and strength the feet are capable of. There are many sensors built into our feet which are dulled when we wear shoes or socks. Barefoot, on the other hand, allows for full sensory impact with each step. Overpronation In my experience, some patients function better with shoes that have support and perhaps foot orthotics to level the hips and improve how we function. In the home, wearing socks reduces foot movement but less than shoes. Shoes also add a heel lift that can be often as much as 14 mm. This reduces the load on the calves and makes it easier to take your next step. Barefoot or near barefoot as the Vibram running shoes pictured here allow more toe and foot movement but give a barrier to protect the bottom of the feet. The full sensory experience of barefoot walking requires you to be barefoot. Some of us are worried that the dirt tracked into the home is bad for us although bacteria are all around us and allowing this to touch our bodies is good for our overall health. Knowing what we understand about immunity, this is likely more correct than the antiseptic activities more common during COVID-19 which may have made us more likely to have taken ill, not less. Remember all the masking and what happened during the two years of cold, flu, and COVID season when the masks came off? The term immunity debt was used to describe what happens when your exposure is reduced artificially and what happens when you quickly increase exposure. A recent article I am sharing that was published in the Huffington Post offers some of what the experts suggest. Read the article below How Bad Is It To Walk Around Barefoot At Home? Doctors’ Answers May Surprise You. What are our recommendations for walking barefoot at home? Barefoot when you can. Our patients are given foot strengthening exercises which are part of our treatment for many of the common conditions patients present with. Barefoot is good for our feet and our core function too. We walk differently without shoes and this is a good thing. It’s ok to wear shoes in the house. Some prefer more shoe-like house slippers. Others prefer sandals. For those with body imbalances, our offices offer orthotic sandals and slippers to help correct body imbalances, level the hips, and reduce the likelihood of back and knee pain. Don’t be a germophobe. Barefoot engagement with the floor is good for us and helps our body through our immune systems to repel infection. If you want to clean your feet, take a shower.