Blistered, bunioned and often labelled smelly and ugly, it’s fair to say our feet are rarely treated with the respect they deserve – especially given that they’re pivotal to how we function, not to mention our connection to the ground.
Our feet are, in fact, at the core of our senses; the primary receptors that tie us to Earth. Each foot is made up of 26 bones, more than 30 joints and over 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments, all of which work together to provide support, balance and mobility. They also have more than 200,000 neurotransmitters, which help determine the terrain they are stepping on. They are, simply put, an evolutionary masterpiece.
Yet, shoes can often prevent our feet from really doing their job, which has sometimes had disastrous consequences, says Ben Le Vesconte, head coach at Vivobarefoot.
Founded in 2012 by Galahad and Asher Clark, two cousins who are seventh-generation cobblers, Vivobarefoot footwear are wide, thin and flexible – designed to replicate the barefoot experience as closely as possible and help wearers reconnect with nature.
The bones in our feet don’t fully form until our teenage years and the cells are constantly regenerating, which means the shoes children wear literally shape their feet. When the bones are restricted by badly fitting shoes, it can cause problems.
“As we start wearing shoes, our toes are narrowed and we begin disconnecting from our natural movement,” says Le Vesconte, who was formerly a running technique coach. “When kids first learn about movement, they need to learn about it in a way that is as connected as possible. If you think about the best runners in the world they are usually in places where they run barefoot, such as Kenya or Ethiopia. They start running barefoot as children and continue into adulthood. It’s not long ago that kids ran cross-country barefoot or in thin, flexible pumps and they were more resilient because of it.”
The quick-fix nature of modern cushioned shoes isn’t doing our children any favours, he says. “These sorts of shoes trick your brain into thinking you’re moving around on soft ground, leading to less shock-absorbing behaviour and higher-impact forces.”
The big toe is central to our balance, coordination and strength, and needs to grow and develop properly. If it’s restricted, it can cause a plethora of problems including poor posture, knee and back pain, and bunions.
“Do you remember that scene in Kill Bill where Uma Thurman punches her way out of a box?” asks Le Vesconte. ”That explosive power starts at the big toe.”
This is backed up by a number of significant scientific studies.
A study of 620 pre-school children in Japan found that just over three-quarters of recipients were wearing shoes that were too short in length and “did not allow the children’s feet the extra space that is recommended for healthy podiatric development and function”. The shorter the shoe, the bigger the risk of developing hallux valgus, otherwise known as bunions. The study concluded: “Going barefoot can possibly help to counteract the increased hallux angle caused by regularly wearing shoes of insufficient length.”
“If shoes are tapered on the big toe it’s irrelevant if they are the ‘right’ size or not, they will still deform the big toe,” says Le Vesconte.
A separate 2020 study suggests that school-based barefoot running classes may improve aspects of sprint biomechanics and develop the fast stretch-shortening cycle ability in children.
Vivobarefoot footwear are not only created to be flexible, but the thin puncture-resistant soles on the children’s range allow the nerves in the foot to connect with the ground and, quite literally, put a spring in their step.
”Our footwear has space for the big toe to move unrestricted, unlike other shoes that are tapered and deform the big toe. Our footwear is designed with plenty of wiggle room and flexibility, which strengthens feet,” says Le Vesconte.
So how have we got to a point where the shoes we make, wear, and buy are actually hindering us? Fashion has a great deal to answer for, says Le Vesconte.
“In the 1100s, the Count of Anjou first wore pointy shoes to hide his deformed feet – and because of his royal status, everyone copied him. That went on for hundreds of years, but during Henry VIII’s reign shoes got wider when everyone started getting gout. So these conversations have been going on for hundreds of years. And now we have the understanding, the science, and the materials to get things right,” says Le Vesconte.
“We know wearing Vivobarefoot footwear improves balance, makes feet stronger and even reshapes big toes – bunions are not hereditary, they are caused by narrow shoes – and we hope that kids who wear our shoes will be better connected to nature and move more skilfully throughout life.”
One thing is clear, the people at Vivobarefoot put a great deal of soul into their soles.
To start your barefoot journey, head to vivobarefoot.com
