Feet Like a Hunter-Gatherer

When I was a teenager I had the belief that my feet were flat, and that was due to some bad genetics. The only way to change my flat, defective feet was to wear orthotics. I had this belief until the second year of chiropractic school, when one day I took the orthotics out of my shoes and never wore them again. I didn't know at the time why I did it. I just knew it was the right thing. It made sense that some people might have flatter feet than others. 

One critical thing I noticed at the time I took my orthotics out of my shoes was how weak my feet felt. My feet felt weak and sore. Not a plantar fasciitis sore, but a muscle sore. My feet muscles were sore. Now this was interesting to me. After years of wearing orthotics in my shoes I thought my feet should be perfect. Why were they sore? 

My feet were sore because the muscles were getting a workout. The muscles in my feet were starting to shape and strengthen properly. My feet were becoming what they were supposed to be. Strong, powerful, sturdy supports for my body. After I started attending Applied Kinesiology seminars the reasons why I took the orthotics out began to make sense. Every single body is different. Every single body functions at a different optimal. Every single body has a different movement pattern. Every single foot is different, and who are we to try and make every foot have the 'optimal' arch? Then, I started thinking, 'What does this do to the neurology?' Changing someone's foot has to mess with the neurology. It changes the way people feel the ground. This cannot be good.

Last week while doing research on the Hunter-Gatherer lifestyle I read some articles on shoes and running that supported the original epiphany I had in the second year of chiropractic school. Certain shoes, usually the more expensive ones, tend to splint the foot, cast the foot in the shoe which ultimately causes atrophy of the musculature, shortening of the tendons, weakening of the foot and lower leg muscles, stiffening of the ligaments, etc. This is exactly what I felt in my feet once I took the orthotics out. (One other thing I left out from above was I also started wearing barefoot type shoes, like the Nike FreeRun.) Now what is the consequences of having weak muscles in the foot and lower leg? Injuries such as plantar fasciitis, ankle sprain, Achilles tendonitis, hamstring tears, and low back pain. These injuries are so prevalent in today's world. I can't think of a single person who hasn't had at least one of those injuries. So, with all the advancement in shoe technology we are making our feet weaker, and ultimately, our entire structure from the ground up weaker.

The journal Ergonomics has an article which specifically addresses this issue. The article states that although barefoot running may not be advantageous for all in today's world, a barefoot simulated shoe will greatly improve orthopedic health in the long term. So, moving back to a simpler shoe may be better for orthopedic health than the expensive alternatives. This is great news, and exciting to see that now we are using technology to better orthopedic health. There is a huge barefoot movement going on right now, and many different shoe companies have great barefoot simulated shoes. I would recommend everyone start wearing barefoot simulated shoes some of the time, walk barefoot in the grass whenever possible, take a walk in the woods because we know a nature scene calms us down more than an urban environment, and finally live like our ancestors. By that I mean eat real food, exercise, early to bed, early to rise, and most importantly LOVE.

When strengthening the foot, it might be a good idea to see a chiropractor, one who specifically uses kinesiology to balance the neurology. As the foot changes and becomes stronger, good structural care will be pivotal. Think of a broken arm. Once the cast comes off you go to physical therapy to help with proper healing and strengthening. Once you unleash your foot from the years of casting, it will take a chiropractic kinesiologist to properly align and aid in the strengthening process.

Live like your ancestors, but do it in a smart way. Use technology to better your life, as with the new lines of barefoot simulated shoes. Try them out!

-Dr. Kurt

References:

Lieberman DE, Venkadesan M, Werbel WA, et al: Foot strike patterns and collision forces in habitually barefoot versus shod runners. Nature 2010;463:531-535. PMID: 20111000

Digby CJ, Lake MJ, Lees A: High-speed non-invasive measurement of tibial rotation during the impact phase of running. Ergonomics 2005;48:1623-1637 PMID: 16338728

Berman MG, Jonides J, Kaplan S: The cognitive benefits of interacting with nature. Psychol Sci 2008;19:1207-1212. PMID: 19121124