Women's Barefoot Dress Shoes - The Complete List | Anya's Reviews (2024)

FAQs

Do barefoot shoes really work? ›

Barefoot shoes aren't magical, and you won't learn how to walk naturally just by wearing them. But they do give you the freedom to use your feet as nature intended. It's up to you to learn how to walk in a healthy way, and once you do, things will start to happen. Your foot settles into a more natural position.

After all, there are more benefits to wearing barefoot shoes than there are places to wear them to. For instance, you can expect to develop stronger feet, experience fewer injuries, improve knee and lower back health, reduce the likelihood of falling, and more.

In general it's best to use your body on a variety of surfaces and terrain, so as not to overuse certain parts. But if you have strong, conditioned feet then standing for long periods of time in barefoot shoes shouldn't be an issue.

In the end, whether or not to wear socks with your barefoot shoes boils down to personal preference. It's essential to gauge what feels right for you and your feet. Try both options, give them a fair shot, and then decide.

Modern shoes have built-in cushioning to help reduce the amount of stress that is directed into the heel; with Barefoot shoes, that lack of cushioning can lead to more significant stress being put onto the muscles & bones within the foot, ankle, knee, hip and sometimes into the spine.

Over the long run, this could accelerate the formation of bunions and hammertoes, or lead to conditions such as plantar fasciitis, shin splints, and Achilles tendonitis. “The main issue with walking barefoot is that you put a tremendous amount of stress on the foot, allowing it to collapse,” he says.

Because of the lack of heel cushioning, minimalist shoes have been associated with an increased incidence of heel (calcaneal) fractures, especially in high arched, rigid foot types.

Some people also believe that because the shoes help to shorten a runner's stride, they place less stress on people's joints, but Dr. Cunha actually believes that zero drop shoes actually increase the risk of injury.

Another says walking barefoot (or in minimalist shoes) is effective in strengthening the muscles of the foot. What's the conclusion? It looks like the evidence suggests barefoot shoes (or walking in bare feet) could be helpful for avoiding plantar fasciitis pain.

Are barefoot shoes good for knees? ›

Shock Absorption: Because minimalist footwear lacks cushioning, the body must rely on its own natural shock-absorbing abilities, such as bending the knees in response to contact. This mechanism more effectively distributes pressures, potentially reducing undue stress on the knee joint.

Barefoot shoes push back against the notion that all feet need to be supported. They do not have arch support because they are designed to let your feet move freely and naturally. In fact, arch support removes the opportunity for your feet to support themselves, which can actually weaken the intrinsic foot muscles.

“They are very light weight and are good for people who have trouble walking,” says Bob Baravarian, MD, chief of foot and ankle surgery at Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center. “They are very stable, they don't bend and twist side to side much, and they have a good heel cup and arch contour compared to other shoes.”

In fact, removing the included (optional) liner can open up a surprising amount of space for the foot inside the shoe and can turn a slightly too-tight fit (especially across the foot, in the forefoot area) into a more optimal fit.

Walking with little to no support as with zero drop shoes on hard surfaces allows our foot to collapse which can lead to a tremendous amount of stress not only to the foot but to the rest of the body.

It is not advised to simply remove your supportive or conventional shoes and start running at your usual level in barefoot shoes. The research does suggest that it takes approximately 6-8 weeks to build up the necessary strength in your feet and legs, and to adapt to this new running gait pattern.

However, for the majority of the population (especially children), barefoot shoes can be recommended as the most suitable footwear for eliminating flat feet. Even if your doctor has prescribed orthopaedic insoles, they will serve you many times better if you put them in roomy barefoot shoes than in regular tight shoes.