What Is The Point Of Minimalist Shoes

Over the past decade, a lot of people have transitioned from their heavily cushioned shoes to more natural alternatives - minimalist shoes.
This move is not just a fashion trend, but a move towards a more sustainable, healthy and biomechanically efficient alternative.

Let’s understand what makes a minimalist shoe worth the hype - 

1. Wide Toe Boxes

One of the main features of minimalist or barefoot shoes is their wide toe box. This allows your toes to maintain their natural form inside the shoe unlike traditional shoes, where your toes are pushed together. Traditional shoes have become a leading cause of major foot problems like bunions. This natural toe box ensures better balance and stability and a more natural gait.

2. Zero Drop

Traditional shoes usually have a raised heel. Now not just dress shoes, but even sports shoes and sneakers have a lifted heel that creates an elevation difference between the heel and the forefoot. Minimalist shoes have zero heel to toe drop that promotes a more natural gait cycle while running and walking. This also ensures that all load is distributed evenly across the foot, reducing the chances of injury.

3. Less Support

Minimalist shoes have very less or no additional support features like an arch support or a heel support. Now for a newbie, this may seem like a disadvantage, rather than it being something to boast about. The idea of taking away support is to actually let the foot do what it does best, adapt and become strong.
Additional cushion and support over a long time makes the muscles weak causing more problems than preventing them. Taking away this support while in the short run may be a little uncomfortable, but in the long run is more natural and healthier for the entire posterior chain.
It is important however to ensure you take your time transitioning to barefoot shoes as the body is not used to loading these muscles as much. 

4.  Strengthening The Feet

Wearing minimalist shoes is just like giving your feet a workout. Just like you would go to the gym and start working your arms, the exact same way. You start slow, build up weights over time and once you’re stronger, an even higher load is possible. The same if with your feet. The more time they spend using them more naturally, the stronger they become. It is hard to see the progress and that is why a lot of people find it harder to attribute their efforts, but every step matters.

5. Improved Posture 

Our feet are our entire body’s foundation. A small change leads to larger and larger changes upwards. A lifted heel, cramped toes, unnatural gait cycle lead to effects on knees, hips, lower back, and our spine. The design of the human body is self sustaining and any changes at the feet mean the other muscles have to work hard to reverse the changes.
Minimalist shoes do not change anything about our feet, and at the same time keep us safe from any harmful artifacts on the ground.