It is in the past few years that people have adopted wearing shoes. Millions of years ago, the majority of people grew up barefooted.
According to a seminal 1905 study, Phil Hoffman admitted that the main developmental result of growing up in shoes is narrower feet and lower arch. However, the disadvantage of such a phenomenon is a more concentrated pressure at the heel during movement.
On the other hand, people who grow up barefooted results in wider feet compared to those who grow up in shoes. Consequently, it leads to an even distribution of pressure towards the outside edge of the foot and across the toes.
The heel of the foot is more sensitive to pain which makes people who run barefoot to avoid landing on their heel. Instead, they prefer to land using the mid or forefront of their toes which allows for a broader surface area to absorb force.
Peter Francis, the director of the Musculoskeletal Science Research Group at Leeds Beckett University said that children and teenagers who grow up barefoot are strong enough to run quickly and for long distances without shoes.
It is, therefore healthy walking barefoot especially if we are in our homes where we understand our environment best.