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Is Barefoot Walking Good for Me?

Posted By Marty Hughes, DC

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The above content is for educational or informational purposes only and is not intended to replace or augment professional medical instruction, diagnosis, or treatment. Read full disclaimer here.

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Can Walking Barefoot on Modern Surfaces Be Harmful?

Posted By Robyn Hughes, ND

It’s true that most shod humans are not currently adapted to walk or run barefoot on hard surfaces such as asphalt or concrete, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have the capacity to do so. Our feet are remarkably adaptable and can, with time and careful exposure, learn to tolerate a wide variety of surfaces—soft, hard, smooth, or bumpy—as long as the foot is strong and free of acquired, footwear-induced... Read more

How Would Our Feet Develop Without Shoes?

Posted By Marty Hughes, DC

In order to understand how our feet would develop without shoes, we need look no further than barefoot cultures that currently exist around the world in places like Asia, Africa, and South and Central America. The feet of barefoot individuals are characterized by strong, sturdy arches, thick calluses on the underside of the foot, and perfectly straight toes that are splayed well apart. In shoe-wearing societies, we have lost the... Read more
Comments
July 17, 2025
Janet

Thanks for your site and all the information you share with us. My question is about a term—re-wilding—that I keep hearing about. What does it mean to “re-wild” the feet?

July 17, 2025
Natural Footgear

Hi, Janet. Thank you for your kind words and thoughtful question—it’s one that we’re especially excited to explore. To “re-wild” the feet means to restore their natural strength, mobility, and function by undoing the effects of conventional footwear and sedentary living. Much like ecological rewilding aims to return landscapes to their original, balanced state, foot rewilding is about returning your feet to the way they were meant to be—mobile, resilient, and fully integrated with the rest of your body’s movement system. It’s a shift away from restrictive shoes, rigid orthotics, and artificial support and toward a lifestyle that allows your feet to behave more like they would in a natural, unshod environment.

Rewilding your feet involves several key practices, including spending more time barefoot or in healthy-foot-shaped, flexible-soled footwear, strengthening your intrinsic foot muscles through movement and targeted exercises, restoring proper toe alignment with tools like Correct Toes, and reconnecting your feet with real-world surfaces that challenge balance and enhance proprioception. The goal isn’t to reject all footwear or live the exact same way as our distant ancestors, but rather to give your feet the conditions they need to thrive. As your feet re-adapt to their natural role as dynamic, sensory-rich foundations, many people find that foot pain subsides, posture improves, and overall movement becomes more fluid and grounded. In that sense, rewilding your feet is not just a physical shift—it’s a deeper reconnection with how your body is meant to move through the world.

We hope this info helps! Please let us know if you have any follow-up questions or comments.

Yours in Foot Health,
Drs. Marty & Robyn Hughes

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