Study proves:
Barefoot sneakers are a great ally in restoring foot health.

Feet have around 200,000 nerve endings and account for 10% of our body weight. With all this structure, they are not only responsible for supporting us, they do much more. Find out how your feet can help you have a healthy body.

Foot care is extremely important for a healthy and active life.

Composed of 26 bones, 33 joints, 108 ligaments and a complex network of 25 intrinsically interconnected muscles, the feet do not receive due attention, being easily discarded when detecting health problems.

Its function goes beyond support. It plays a crucial role in supporting the body, providing balance, posture, direction and overall well-being throughout the body.

Having problems with your feet can trigger a series of other problems, affecting your spine, knees, joints and even organs.

In this article you will discover - in a surprising way - how your feet can help your body recover its health and how using the right footwear (barefoot sneakers) speeds up this process.

Foot function (and health)

Healthy feet play a vital role in your health, directly influencing balance, posture and mobility.

Having any problems with your feet can result in complications throughout your body.

Foot discomfort, for example, can lead to unconscious adjustments in posture, affecting your spine and resulting in back pain. Flat feet, on the other hand, compromise your ability to absorb shock, negatively impacting your joints, especially your knees and hips.

When wearing high-heeled shoes, your feet are placed under pressure and unevenly, which can lead to poor walking patterns, increasing the risk of accidents and injuries.

And we can't forget to mention that, believe it or not, foot problems also impact our organs. The nerves and receptors in the feet communicate problems to the brain, triggering adjustments in movement and posture patterns, indirectly impacting the functioning of the organs.

The feet maintain an intrinsic connection with the body, forming a two-way relationship.

That is, your overall health can affect the health of your feet, and the health of your feet can affect the health of your entire body.

According to the American Podiatric Medical Association , approximately 20% of the U.S. population has at least one foot problem annually.

Furthermore, more than half of the population does not make the connection between the problem they acquired and the shoes they use.

Another important factor is that, in addition to foot problems, some people develop problems or chronic pain in their knees, hips, spine and legs.

One thing is certain: the way we take care of our feet reflects on our health. There is no point in worrying about our healthy lifestyle if the “protagonist” of this film is being left aside.

The research that will change the #barefootmovement

As we said above, feet have several different functions for our body.

Having worked with the body and movement for 20 years, and for the last 13 years dedicating herself meticulously to the study of feet, Camila Wippel is an Osteopathic Physiotherapist - DO from the Madrid School of Osteopathy, Founder of Fluir Saúde Consciente and responsible for developing a randomized clinical trial with a very common dysfunction among people.

This dysfunction is metatarsalgia.

The choice was based on the principle of one of the foot dysfunctions that shoes have the greatest impact on. Metatarsalgia is basically excess pressure on the forefoot, which can cause pain and inflammation in the metatarsals, the long bones at the front of the foot, just below the toes.

“Those who have metatarsalgia will experience pain, discomfort, changes in sensitivity, decreased foot strength and essential functions, among others,” says Camila.

Defining the dysfunction, Camila organized 45 people, men and women, between 20 and 70 years old, into 3 different groups.

- Group 1 received a protocol of osteopathic manipulative techniques

- Group 2 received the same protocol and also a pair of barefoot FOT sneakers

- Group 3 received only the pair of barefoot FOT sneakers.

The chosen model was the Walka, the first barefoot FOT sneaker, being the pioneer brand in this segment in Brazil.

People were assessed using 3 instruments:

1 - Algometer : this device applies pressure to the area where the person feels pain, causing the person to report the moment when the painful stimulus is triggered;

2 - Foot Function Idex Questionnaire : validated in Portuguese, this questionnaire is formulated with questions about this foot problem, related to people's daily lives.

3 - VAS (Visual Analogue Scale): scale that measures each person's pain level from 0 to 10, with 0 being no pain at all and 10 being intense pain.

The aim of the research is to prove the connection between feet and the health of the body, the benefits of using sneakers designed for the feet and the harm that traditional footwear has caused over the years with daily use.

The study that will change your thinking

After monitoring the 3 groups, it was possible to identify that all had some improvement in relation to the initial condition.

However, group 1, which received only the osteopathic manipulative techniques protocol and continued using their footwear normally, did not have a statistically relevant percentage of improvement, scientifically speaking.

Groups 2 and 3, which received barefoot sneakers, had significant scientific relevance.

Camila's conclusion is that group 1, despite receiving appropriate techniques for the problem, continued to show no improvement due to inadequate footwear. The other two groups showed improvement because, in addition to receiving appropriate techniques, they also received shoes that were suitable for their feet.

In other words, wearing shoes made especially for your feet (which respect their natural shape) helps a lot in your recovery from treatments. It is not enough to just treat the problem and pain at the time; you need to change your footwear and lifestyle.

Furthermore, through this research it will be possible to bring more focus to foot dysfunction treatments for other professionals who work with this, emphasizing that barefoot is part of foot health recovery.

The FOT choice

In her research, Camila chose the first barefoot FOT, the Walka model.

She says she chose this model because it is perfect for the purpose of her research, as it follows all the principles of a barefoot. It is straight, extremely flexible, wide in the forefoot, thin and light.

For her, barefoot sneakers became part of her work tools, indicating their use regardless of age, pathology

By choosing the barefoot path with FOT, you are embracing not just a style of footwear, but a healthier lifestyle. It is the ideal barefoot to help restore foot health.

The benefits go beyond comfort. Imagine naturally strengthening your foot muscles, improving your balance and posture, and experiencing freedom of movement like never before.

Take a bold step towards a healthier lifestyle.

** The research will be published in Foot & Ankle International - Official Journal of American Orthopedic.