Turning a little to history, you can learn that before Phil Knight came up with the idea of importing the Japanese Tiger sneakers to the USA in 1962, which were later modified and renamed Nike by the Americans, the number of running injuries was much lower than it is today. The creative proposals of shoe brands in the second half of the 20th century regarding the creation of soles with a layer of air, adding spikes to the sole, introduction of arch support, a softened heel and fixation of the ankle joint from "harmful" pronation or supination, mercilessly broke into the natural anatomy of human feet, which developed over tens of thousands of years. The expression "better is the enemy of good" sounds extremely appropriate in this context.
One of the greatest minds of mankind, the inventor and scientist Leonardo da Vinci said: "The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art." Why are we afraid to use them in their natural state: without added heels, a thick layer of soft soles, all kinds of supports and narrow toe boxes of traditional shoes? The answer, perhaps, lies in our sympathy for the usual way of things.
Now, returning to the main topic of this publication, we can conclude that regardless of lifestyle and age, our feet are equally capable of appreciating natural conditions for their functioning and the absence of restrictions. Even sitting in the office in barefoot shoes, you will feel better, because your feet will not be compressed, burdened by the weight and stiffness of the conventional shoes, and the proprioception made better available in barefoot shoes (perception of balance and location of the body in the surroundings) will reduce the level of cortisol, the stress hormone. An active teenager's feet in barefoot shoes will be strengthened and, at such a sensitive age for the development of locomotor pathologies, barefoot shoes will prevent the negative consequences of sitting for a long time at a desk and carrying a backpack in high-heeled shoes. For older people, barefoot shoes will give the feet the much-needed relief and probably bring back the joy of a leisurely walk without pain and discomfort in the feet.
Our feet have the same number of nerve endings as our palms. Everyone would agree that, having been wearing gloves all day, the perception of the surrounding world would be less vivid. The same is true for our feet, for which feeling the surface is important for the stability and balance of the whole body.
At its core, barefoot shoes will be useful for all people who seek to bring back to their feet what modern traditional footwear has taken away from them — the natural condition, biomechanics and sensuality — such an important elements of overall well-being.