Welcome to my blog! So we all have our favorite shoes
we wear while hiking, going to the beach, running, exercising, and just plain
walking around town. So, what type of shoes are they? Tennis shoes? Hiking boots?
Running shoes? What if I told you the shoes you are probably wearing now are
bad for your feet. There are numerous studies that show zero-drop shoes are very
beneficial for our feet, posture, balance, and back. But what are zero-drop
shoes and why haven’t I heard of them before. Good question! Let’s look at them
further and discuss the benefits of these amazing shoes.
What Exactly Are Zero-Drop Shoes
The
phrase
“Zero
-Drop” may sound like an exciting carnival ride, diet program, some Village
dive bar, or an 80’s pop band. But it describes a kind of shoe. And people love
them. According to trainers (like myself) and even podiatrists, wearing
zero-drop shoes is something everyone should be doing. I ordered a pair, and
they should arrive in the morning of me writing this. I will do a review of
them in the future and let you know which ones I bought and how they feel
overall. Now back to our regularly scheduled post!
So,
the meaning of “zero-drop” is the angle between your heel and your toe when it’s
in a shoe. That’s all. Most shoes, such as tennis shoes, heels, or work shoes
(or boots) place the heel higher than your toes and there, hence, “drop” your
foot down at an angle. With zero-drop shoes being worn places your heel and
toes level with each other. This is the same as if you were walking around
barefoot.
Theory Behind Zero-Drop
Shoes
One
of the most important things to remember about zero-drop shoes is that they
keep your feet in the same position they would be in if you were barefoot. You
might not realize, but our feet are naturally very strong and mobile. Regularly
wearing shoes such as tennis shoes, high heels, work boots, etc., can make your
feet less strong and less flexible, and could change your form as you walk and
move, and cause injury.
If you really think about it, shoes act like a cast on
your feet. The feet are the foundation of your body, so if your feet are weak,
a chain reaction happens all the way up the body that increases your risk of injury.
In fact, the shoes runners usually wear are why there is research that show
that running is one of the most injury-prone sports. Most running sneakers have
a heel-drop, which can alter your form, make you more susceptible to
misalignment (especially in the knees and low back), and therefore lead to
injury.
So,
does this mean everyone should ditch their shoes they have been wearing and
start going barefoot? Well, yes technically. However, the trouble is that most
people’s feet aren’t strong enough to handle it. So, let’s look at your own
feet for example, if your feet have adapted to wearing cushioned tennis shoes that
have a heel drop, and then you take the shoes away, it could cause a whole new
set of problems and injuries because the foot is too weak to handle it.
You must start slow and
work up to wearing zero-drop shoes full time. Look at it like this, the foot is
made up of 20 muscles, you wouldn’t load up a barbell and try to back squat it
if you haven’t been training for it. Similarly, you wouldn’t want to go
barefoot all the time without training your foot for it. This is where
zero-drop shoes come in. You get the best of both worlds, being barefoot and
being in your standard cushioned shoe.
**Note:
Zero-Drop Shoes and Minimalist Shoes are NOT the same thing! Be careful when or
if you purchase them! Read what you are buying! Let me explain, in addition to
having a zero-drop heel, minimalist shoes also have reduced
cushioning and reduced arch support. Some zero-drop shoes are still
relatively cushioned. **
Benefit of Wearing Zero-Drop Shoes
The
main benefit of zero-drop shoes is that, unlike regular tennis shoes, they keep
your foot in its natural position which is level from heel to toe.
When people begin to wear
zero-drop shoes, their posture and overall alignment improves dramatically,
they become more stable, and they can balance themselves better. This is very
important especially with the elderly population. Their foot also returns to
its natural function and strength. People will notice that their ankle mobility
returns and is stronger, which can help improve overall squat form and depth,
as well as reduce calf strain.
In addition to the above benefits,
many folks who have experienced problems, injuries, or pain in the past such as
with their knees, back, ankles, and hips may notice that the pain disappears
entirely after they switch to zero-drop shoes.
Conclusion:
I
hope this helps you decide to switch to a new shoe to help with your back,
hips, ankles, and posture. The ones I purchased off Amazon were $23.99. Yes,
they do make them up into the hundreds, but I specifically purchased these
because you can take the insert out and have no arch or support. So, it is a
barefoot, minimalist, zero-drop shoe. It has the cushion of a tennis shoe, and
the flatness of walking barefoot.
They are from MIFAWA (brand) they received 4.3
stars out of 1114 reviews. Barefoot Shoes Men Zero Drop Shoes Men Toe Shoes for
Men Minimalist Shoes. $23.99 on sale now reg. $27.99.
Until next time,
Take Care,
Darren
Harmony Shift 