Educational Articles: Topics

The very best foot pads are the ones that nature gave us (i.e., the ones already built into our feet), such as the forefoot fat pad and the calcaneal fat pad. But for most of us who have spent a lifetime shod, our foot pads are not properly positioned (or conditioned) to play the role they were intended to play. In... Read more

When we set out on this journey so many years ago, we scarcely imagined—though we certainly hoped, at least in the backs of our minds—that we’d be coming to you today with news of Natural Footgear’s 10th anniversary. But here we are, in late March 2022, 10 wonderful years into our mission, and we thought it might be fun... Read more

The natural foot health revolution is here. Increasing numbers of people are liberating their feet from the shackles of conventional footwear and realizing the benefits of more minimalist footwear. For the first time ever, footgear is now available to consumers that supports and respects the brilliant design of the human foot and helps correct toe deformities caused by years of inappropriate footwear use. We are rediscovering our... Read more

For decades, we, as footwear consumers and users, have been told that we need plenty of padding in our shoes and under our feet to help boost comfort and buffer the forces on our bodies that occur during standing, walking, running, and jumping. Like many things in the health arena, this information has become common knowledge and accepted as fact. Shoe industry bigwigs along with countless healthcare... Read more

Running is a type of moving, or dynamic, meditation, and I, like many others, run to recalibrate my outlook on life, center my wandering mind, and spend time in the invigorating “flow” state so often experienced by athletes, gamers, musicians, and other performers. There is something so fundamental and primal about running; indeed, our ability (and willingness) to run long distances... Read more

Keeping your feet dry is important in preventing blisters, warts, and fungal skin and nail problems. Consider incorporating the following tips into your daily routine to keep your feet dry and your foot health hygiene optimized: Remove the liners from your shoes; place your shoes next to a heat source to encourage complete drying; dry your feet thoroughly after bathing and/or swimming, especially between your toes; wear... Read more

The Toe Extensor Stretch—a simple stretch of the toe extensor muscles and tendons—is perhaps the single most important stretch or exercise for foot health. Most conventional shoes possess about 15 to 20 degrees of toe spring, or upward toe ramping, which, along with heel elevation, creates imbalances in the flexor and extensor muscles and tendons that act on the foot. Overly tight toe extensor muscles and tendons... Read more

Toe spring is a toe-deforming shoe feature present in most shoes, including athletic shoes. Toe spring is the elevation of your shoe’s toe box above the ground or supporting surface. The current industry standard for toe spring for most types of footwear is 15 degrees. This means that most shoes hold, or immobilize, your toes in an unnatural, extended position. This immobilization is problematic because your toes... Read more

Healthy toes are straight, evenly spaced, and free of the many problems that plague so many people in shod, or shoe-wearing, populations. Most conventional footwear, including running shoes, possesses tapering toe boxes that force the toes into a wedge-like position. This design characteristic, along with heel elevation and toe spring, causes many foot problems and toe deformities over time. Unshod populations, or groups of people who go... Read more

Tongue pads are used in shoes for several reasons, though the most common reason is to snug-up a loose-fitting shoe to prevent heel slippage. Most people have one foot that is slightly longer than the other, but yet almost everyone wears the same size of shoe on both feet, which may result in forward and backward foot slippage inside the... Read more