2 years with barefoot shoes and she is not improving

This week Cristina sent me a photo of her feet and tells me:

“I've been wearing almost exclusively minimalist footwear for 2 years. Everything, except for the hiking shoes which I'm planning to change soon. I have some Hokas and they are a total aberration.

Look at the photo of her feet.



Why aren’t her toes improving more quickly?

Cristina continues:

“I use toe separators almost every day and spend hours with them on weekends, and I also have the band that I put on both big toes and I do movements... but the change isn’t very encouraging over all this time.

Also, since November it hasn't helped that I started working at a supermarket and wear the safety shoes they provide.

Some Hokas that mistreat my foot, they hurt, they cause pain in both nails when I kneel and many other issues."

Two key points: toe separators and footwear for work.

Let's address it part by part.

If you are using a toe separator or corrector, it is essential to choose one that is comfortable and you can wear inside your footwear.

And for it to be truly effective, there must be loaded movement, meaning, walking or moving.

The corrector will have almost no effect if you use it while seated or without load.

Additionally, within the barefoot world, there are models with wider lasts, which makes the use of the corrector easier and enhances the work of your feet.

That is, having the barefoot label doesn’t mean that, in your case, there’s enough space for a corrector + toes.

Look at this comparison of barefoot shoe lasts: Comparative of Lasts and Volume in Barefoot Footwear

On the other hand, there's the footwear you use for work.

Here lies one of Cristina’s problems.

At home everything is fine, but at work it gets complicated.

Not only with safety shoes, but also with heels or narrow-toed shoes that many companies require as part of the uniform.

Workers who have to endure the workday with squeezed and immobile feet.

It’s like dieting during the day and eating pizza at night. You take one step forward and two steps back.

The footwear at work should help, not sabotage the process.

And if you work at a place like this, you have a problem…

Cristina continues:

“Do you know if I can request different safety footwear and have it accepted?

Maybe with a medical certificate?

By the way, my kids aged 9 and 7 are thrilled with their Merrell Trail Gloves. They might be next for my Camino de Santiago in April.

The answer is yes.

I have clients who have managed to get their company to allow them to use different safety footwear because the standard issue causes them pain and affects their work performance.

They achieved it with a report from a podiatrist or orthopedist indicating the need for wider, flexible footwear without heels.

Why am I telling you all this?

Because your feet will improve, but only if you make the right decisions.

So start with the basics:

• Review the footwear you wear at work.
  
  
• Use the toe corrector with the right footwear and keep it moving.
  
  
• Do exercises to strengthen your feet. In the postscript I leave you some basics.
  
  

And if like Cristina, you are planning to do the Camino de Santiago or enjoy hiking, check out the different options from Groundies.

All waterproof.

Textile or leather.

With a sole that provides a secure and comfortable grip.

• Leather boot, Groundies Portland: Women and Men

• Textile boots, Groundies All Terrain High 2.0: Women and Men

• Textile shoes, Groundies All Terrain Low 2.0: Women and Men

100% barefoot.

Efectiviwonder.

Health starts with your feet.

Antonio Caballo.

Ps: Basic exercises to improve your feet.

• Lift only your big toe. Do it without lifting the other toes as well. If you can't, practice until you can.
  
  
• Walk on tiptoes. Forward and backward.
  
  
• Walk on natural surfaces. Forget about the flat floors at home. Go outside and walk on sand, grass, or gravel. It's a free gym for your feet. Barefoot, you multiply the benefits by 1000.
  
  
• Massage with a ball. Step on a tennis ball and move it in all directions. It might be uncomfortable at first, but then it's sheer bliss.
  
  

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