Barefoot shoes are in fashion. Again.

Barefoot shoes are back in fashion. It was back in 2010, when the book "Born to Run" was published, and now it is trending again with many influencers on social media recommending it.

This brings with it a problem: it starts to be used without knowing why, simply because it is fashionable.

And in this case you have to be careful for one reason:

Feet are weak.

For years they have been confined in narrow, stiff, high-heeled shoes, and this has led to poor circulation, weak arches, atrophied muscles, shortened tendons and stiff fasciae.

The problems this causes are manifold: spurs, plantar fasciitis, Morton's neuroma, metatarsalgia, deformed toes... and worse balance and stability, something that with age becomes dangerous because of the risk of falling.

And for this reason you have to start, as soon as possible, to use minimalist shoes.

And if I'm 70 years old?

Also if you are 70 years old.

It's never too late.

But be careful if you practice high-impact sports over a long period of time, such as running.

Walking, weight lifting, CrossFit... no problem.

But what if your sport is running?

Your feet are almost certainly not ready for it.

It's like a cyclist riding a bike with flat tyres.

So before you start running, you have to inflate the wheels, which translated to your feet is:

Restore your muscles, the flexibility of your tendons, the hardness of your bones and strengthen the arch of your foot.

And that takes time.

What happens to your arm after wearing a cast?

You'll have a playmobil arm. It will be all bone, no muscle.

Now imagine what happens to your feet after 30, 40 or 50 years in plaster shoes.

Not only will you have lost muscle, your bones will be decalcified, because thick soles prevent your feet from feeling the impact with the ground and that eventually leads to weak bones.

And even if your feet have everything they need to run barefoot (man has been doing it for millions of years), they are not ready for it today.

If you set your mind to it, you can do it. I have no doubts. But give it time, as the saying goes, the world wasn't made in a day.

I propose 3 steps.

1.- The first is to change your footwear.

The simple fact of wearing minimalist shoes every day strengthens your feet.

Are you looking for an everyday shoe that always looks good?

• Groundies Universe Women

• Groundies Universe Men

2.- If your toes are crooked, curved, curled, clawed or pinched, use a toe corrector.

This one can be used while walking or playing sports.

3.- Do exercises to stimulate, mobilise and strengthen your feet.

You will be amazed at the improvements you can achieve in just 10 minutes a day.

I leave you a video and a 50-page guide with exercises and an explanation of running technique.

To sum up.

Before running with minimalist shoes, walk.

A lot.

Every day.

And if you do specific exercises for your feet, the progress will be incredible.

Your health starts in your feet

Antonio Caballo