In 1980, I was traveling in Kenya's Aberdare mountain range with my father, Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld -- renowned cardiologist and host of Fox News Sunday's "Housecall" -- when a runner burst into camp, having run 26 miles to deliver an urgent medical message. Upon receiving my father's reply, he took a sip of water and ran back to deliver it.
Being surrounded by the creatures of the African highlands, and having recently left the plains, I managed an evolutionary perspective on the fact that a man could run a double marathon through the forest -- outrunning lions and all that -- but barefoot? How could his ankles, knees and hips take the pounding, never mind his feet? The deed was unimaginable to someone who wore leather loafers to work and soft sneakers to the gym.
At that time, I could never have imagined that more than 30 years later there would be a quiet revolution in the way we see running. In the wake of Christopher McDougall's bestselling "Born to Run" -- a chronicle of the exploits of the barefoot running of Tarahumara Indians of Mexico's Copper Canyon -- and perhaps coincident with a grassroots reevaluation of the role of the foot in life, if not love, athletes around the country are shedding their highly-constructed, heavily cushioned running shoes in favor of high-tech, minimalist shoes.
This change has been a long time coming. In 1997, Chinese scholar-warrior Jwing-Ming Yang discoursed on the evils of soft shoes at a martial arts symposium I attended in Virginia. Drawing on several thousands years of traditional Chinese medicine, he explained that from the standpoint of Chinese medicine there is a "heart" in the foot, one that functions like a fireplace bellows to aid in the circulation of fluid that would otherwise be trapped in the legs, pooling around the ankles -- because we are, after all, bags of water with a few stiff sticks thrown in. Wearing a shoe with too much padding on the bottom eliminates this effect; the sole of the shoe is compressed rather than the sole of the foot, and, to press the analogy, the heart of the foot does not beat.
Western medicine recognizes the importance of muscular action in circulation of two of the body's critical fluids, lymph and blood. Lymph resembles blood plasma and is vital to the immune system. It relies on a complex system of tiny valves and is slowly propelled through the small spaces between tissues and organs by the action of both smooth and skeletal muscle. Patients whose lymphatic system is obstructed (a condition called lymphedema that may result from parasites or from radiation treatment for cancer) often exhibit swelling in the extremities, the result of pooling lymph. One treatment is to wrap the legs with compression bandages to help accomplish precisely the circulatory "squeezing" to which Master Yang referred. Blood is moved by muscle, too. Arteries have muscular walls that contract to help them carry oxygen-rich blood to needy tissues, while veins, like lymph, rely on a combination of valves and the pumping action of skeletal muscles (including those in the hands, arms, legs and feet) to return deoxygenated blood to the heart.
Everyone knows that high heels are bad for the lower back, joints, intervertebral discs and overall posture, but it turns out that even the raised heel on most athletic shoes is less than ideal, as well. Thickly padded, laterally stabilized athletic shoes were initially conceived to protect ankles, knees, hips and spine from the repetitive torsional and shocking forces found in running. The idea had merit -- and still does for some people -- but the competition of the consumer marketplace led the idea to run amok. Aggressive marketing these days has most of us, even kids, wearing shoes that in many cases overprotect the foot. The result is that foot muscles never develop properly, leading not only to effects on circulation, but frequently to problems with tendons, toes and nails.
The feet also play a role in the circulation of energy. Acupuncturists, massage therapists and reflexologists will tell you that some of the most important "points" are in the foot, including the sole. Barefoot running or walking, particularly over uneven terrain, stimulates these important points, yielding benefits well known to Eastern medicine.
In our aboriginal days, we experienced the world through the digits and muscles and skin of our feet just as much as we do through our hands. Most of us have lost that interface with the world, but we can begin to get it back by engaging a mind/body practice that uses our whole body and increases our awareness. Tai chi is especially well suited to this task, as it deliberately concentrates our attention on balance, footwork and stability.
It may also help to choose a shoe that allows the foot to function the way it was intended to while at the same time providing a level of protection from hazards on the roadway or, better, on the trail. Many athletes have a favorite brand, but for my money a good first step in the awakening of the foot is Nike's "Free" line, available as both runners and cross-trainers. These shoes still have a raised heel and look and fit like regular athletic shoes, but they have minimal padding and a hyper-flexible sole. A good next step might be the "Barefoot" shoes from Merrell or the New Balance Minimus line. At the extreme end of the spectrum is Vibram's FiveFinger offerings, shoes that are like gloves for your feet, toes and all.
Transition slowly to one of the less constructed athletic shoes if you want to reap the benefits, though, because years of relying on cushion, padding, and ankle support weaken the feet and it takes time to strengthen them again. Many minimal workout shoes will cause foot pain if worn too often and for too long at the beginning. Specific medical/structural issues aside, the change may cure existing or incipient problems, but if you rush it, you're going to be uncomfortable and may even hurt yourself. Try a half an hour here or there, then an hour, then more, all over the course of a few weeks. Walk barefoot more often, too. Your feet will love you for it.
Follow Arthur Rosenfeld on Twitter: www.twitter.com/machobuddha
According to the method of dream interpretation discovered by Car Jung, the feet represent our moral principals, and our beliefs.
Our feet are certainly very important for many reasons. They sustain our body.
My feet love Birkies and Shape Ups.
I can go barefoot or wear very thin soled shoes in parks, in the yard or while camping, but for trekking around town on concrete, asphalt, hardwood and more concrete, well-padded soles are essential. Our concrete world has no "give" to it, the way dirt does.
The particular ones I settled on hold up very well. They are a wool / acrylic mix. Some of the other ones I tried became threadworn in a few months, or stretched out.
Although I don't really do it, people who do hiking seem to use wool socks.
To day I have a weak heart. And the Cardiologist want me to walk, the Internalist wanted me to walk. Me I could not. Back then when they told me I could only be sedate so the heart could rest. I did energy exercises, light at first, eventually I stood on my head and did the most powerful pranyama or breath control. I ate to live and not lived to eat. I concentrated, I meditated
At 64, I am more into letting life unfold than change it with cause and effect. When my force exercise, suggest for longer less costly hospital and health care. I ended up on the table again being shocked because I only had 4% evacuation from the heart.
Since the sinus rythem returned I can walk 100 yards again, but never will I walk walk for the day is coming for better health. I will live in peace and do what the body is capable.
If I choose to become whole again then I will. Till then I might just wait till the next Spin Cycle
One easy way to accomplish this, at least while sleeping, is by getting an electrically conductive mattress pad, and connecting it to a nearby earth ground. There are several on the market. I have been using one for years, and my Tonkinese cats have one in their bed. As I write this comment, I am connected to earth ground through my chair armrest.
Here is a link to some info on the subject:
http://www.earthinginstitute.net/
Details and references on this and other health clues from nature can be found in "The Wellness Project."
Roy Mankovitz, Director
http://www.MontecitoWellness.com
A research organization
I have the most amazing technicolor dreams since I begain sleeping with my body grounded! Everyone should be doing this!
Or maybe cause' it's all nonsense.
Instinct above Thinking may be more correct. Asuming of course Instinct is past knowledge passed down through the Universe atoms, molecules and DNA itself. What I call Spirit.
Science some day may understand Nature and the relationship of the physical material world to the Spirit beyond that
Mathew 6
26Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
28And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
In the Modern time I do not think one has to be barefoot. If I am NOT EVIL. But being aware throught the feet or WORD, what is the difference
This from an internet user who would love her feet to be her shoes.