Popular Q&A: Foot Health Heritage

Are Bunions Hereditary?

Posted By Robyn Hughes, ND

Are bunions hereditary?

A lot of people with bunions assume they are predisposed to developing this foot problem because their older relatives had bunions. But it's impossible to state that bunions are hereditary if all the members of one's family have worn shoes with tapering toe boxes. Shoes with this injurious design feature hold the big toe in a bunion configuration for prolonged periods and... Read more

Can Walking Barefoot on Modern Surfaces Be Harmful?

Posted By Robyn Hughes, ND

Can walking barefoot be harmful on modern surfaces?

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,... Read more


How Would Our Feet Develop Without Shoes?

Posted By Marty Hughes, DC

How would our feet develop without shoes?

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... Read more

Is Barefoot Walking Good for Me?

Posted By Marty Hughes, DC

Is barefoot walking good for me?

Barefoot walking is part of our natural foot health heritage. Our ancestors walked barefoot across a variety of terrain and in a variety of climatic conditions. Many people around the world still walk barefoot, or in minimalist footwear, without experiencing the kind of foot and toe issues—such as bunions, crooked toes, and neuromas—that plague many shoe-wearing individuals. So, is... Read more