It's important to know that barefoot footwear , also known as minimalist or eco-friendly footwear, offers a significant advantage: it allows the foot to move as if walking barefoot. Its design respects the natural shape of the foot and provides protection from environmental factors and weather when needed.
Why is it important to wear barefoot school shoes?
Our little ones spend many hours at school each day, and for most of that time they're sitting indoors. If we add to that the use of rigid shoes, we have a combination that's quite harmful to their musculoskeletal development.
The most amazing thing is that although 98% of babies are born with healthy feet, throughout their lives 70% of them will suffer some foot pathology, and one of the main causes is inadequate footwear, according to data from the Illustrious Official College of Podiatrists of the Valencian Community (ICOPC) relating to the Spanish population.
Healthy feet don't actually need any help to walk or develop properly. Foot muscles can only be strengthened by exercising, ideally by walking barefoot on different types of surfaces. Since this isn't always possible due to the weather and/or because not all schools allow it, there's a solution: barefoot school shoes . These shoes respect the shape of the foot and are so minimalist that they allow you to walk as if you were barefoot.
What are the characteristics of respectful school footwear?
Barefoot footwear has five main characteristics:
- Wide toe box: Barefoot shoes are designed to mimic the natural shape of the human foot, preventing long-term deformities and allowing room for the toes to fully open when walking, thus improving balance and body stability;
- Without heel drop: Any difference in height, even by just a few millimeters, forces our body to compensate to maintain an upright posture and balance. Furthermore, long-term heel drop shortens the tendons, affecting posture and the body's center of gravity. This impacts the overall functioning of the body in the long run (feet, knees, hips, back, etc.).
- Thin and flexible sole: It helps us connect with the ground, feel where we are walking and encourage our muscles to work and stay strong;
- Good support system: the shoe moves with the foot, without slipping or sliding around. The foot shouldn't slip out of the shoe or slide forward while walking. Shoes that require you to hold onto them with your toes to keep them on (flip-flops, plastic clogs, backless slippers, etc.) are not recommended.
- Without elements that interfere with foot development: no toe lifts, arch support, stabilizers, or cushioning. The feet should rest on the ground to strengthen, prevent injuries, and ensure balance and stability.
Benefits of using eco-friendly school shoes
In summary, wearing footwear that respects the shape of the feet has a number of health benefits, which is why it is so highly recommended in conditions of prolonged use such as school:
- It prevents the deformities that narrow shoes can cause, improving balance and body stability;
- It helps maintain good posture;
- It increases sensory experience and contact with the ground, thanks to which the muscles in your feet work and stay strong;