Have you ditched your shoes for the summer?
On a steamy summer day, going shoeless might feel like the ultimate in relaxation, but you might want to think twice before going barefoot. Leaving your feet unprotected can lead to injuries, infections and biomechanical issues, said Shawn Braunagel, DPM, a podiatrist who practices at Cape Cod Healthcare Podiatric Medicine and Foot Surgery in Hyannis.
“When the whole barefoot movement came along a few years ago, advocates said that’s how we evolved,” he said. “But when humans evolved, we were walking on dirt and grass. Now we walk on concrete and pavement, which have a higher ground reactive force. You’re ultimately having a harder pressure against your foot versus walking or running on grass or sand. You only have two tires, two feet, and you can’t replace them. They wear down a lot more when you’re pushing a higher ground reactive force up against them.”
Another risk is cutting your feet, he said. Even when you walk from your car to the beach, your feet should be protected. “You’re talking about walking through a parking lot, which could have tons of sharp objects, whether someone dropped a glass or even a needle. You’re putting your foot in an unsanitary condition of things that you don’t know what’s going on there. Wear flip-flops, sandals or Crocs.”
Water shoes are a great way to protect your feet, he said. “I live in Sandwich and the beaches are rocky” he said.
Another downside of walking barefoot, especially for longer distances, is the risk of altering the biomechanics of your stride.
“That can cause more stress and strain on the tendons or ligaments or cause you to have foot pain,” he said. “If you alter your biomechanics, you’re putting additional stress on parts of your body that aren’t supposed to get it. That could result in plantar fasciitis, hammer toes or stress fractures.”
Other Concerns
If you swim at a community pool or use a fitness club locker room, be sure to walk around in shower shoes, he said. “When your foot is in a warm, moist environment and the skin gets macerated, like when you’re in the pool or shower, you're more susceptible to conditions such athlete’s foot or a plantar wart.”
A good rule of thumb for everyone is to monitor your feet regularly, looking for cuts, sores or other changes, said Dr. Braunagel.
“If you're not cleaning and checking your feet, you’re running a higher risk for problems,” he said. “If you have neuropathy, it should be a daily check. For others, check your feet after you go for a run or other activity, looking for new blisters or new calluses, because they are often a precursor to something bigger. Is your shoe too tight? Is the shoe hitting wrong?”
While Dr. Braunagel generally cautions against taking off your shoes in summer, he’s not universally against bare feet.
“We live in a beach community, so walking barefoot is appealing,” he said. “If you have comorbidities or systemic issues that could potentially limit your ability to feel the surroundings, then barefoot is more dangerous. For most people, it’s not ideal to go barefoot, but there are certain circumstances where it’s totally fine to do it. If someone doesn’t have any pain and they’re healthy, by all means, going barefoot is fine.”
