Well-grounded: Benefits of barefoot walking

Nature is beautiful and captivating. While living in a world which increasingly takes us away from nature, we still do our bit to reconnect — treks, hikes, morning walks or runs, a swim. Even with these, we have inadvertent disconnects.

Many of us fondly remember the feeling of walking or running barefoot in our backyard during our childhood. But now, when we go out on morning walks, we have activity-specific specialized footwear with many positives. They take the experience of feeling the surface of the earth out of the equation. Barefoot walking, the experience, and its charm included, is not just skin deep, though.

Earthing or grounding

When walking barefoot outside, sitting on the ground, or sleeping indoors on the floor, a contact is established between the body and the earth’s surface. There is a transfer of energy (through electrons) from the ground into the human body. This process is called earthing/grounding and is known to have a positive impact on health. 

Earthing: Health implications of reconnecting the human body to the Earth’s surface electrons, a review article by Chevalier G et al. suggests that the disconnect from the earth’s electrons could be one of the major contributors for physiological dysfunction, leading to being unwell.

Barefoot walking: A form of earthing

Barefoot walking enables earthing. Walking without footwear facilitates continuous contact with the electrons on the earth’s surface, causing remarkable physiological effects. 

“The surface of the earth has negative potential and is thus a source of free electrons,” says Dr Roshini Rajkumar, a lifestyle physician and acupuncturist from Bengaluru. “It is also electrically conductive, and we are all electrical beings by nature. Electrical activity exists in every cell of our body. When we walk barefoot, we are in contact with the ground and the electrons transfer to the human body. We become electrically neutralized as the free electrons reduce the charges in the human body and help maintain electrical stability which is important for bodily functions. Evidence suggests that the earth’s negative potential can bring about normal functioning of body organs.”

Barefoot walking vs footwear walking 

While safety, hygiene, distance and comfort have a huge say in whether you walk barefoot or use footwear, hazards on the walking trail are also deterrents to barefoot walking. However, wearing footwear has its own hazards. Wrong footwear can lead to lasting injuries. While walking with or without shoes is a personal choice, being barefoot is a more natural exertion and comes with benefits.

“One tends to be happier and healthier when closer to nature. Walking barefoot will make you feel calm, relaxed and safe,” says Dr Rajkumar. “Walking barefoot makes the feet strong and flexible. It can help reduce foot and ankle pain and even improve proprioception which is the awareness of the body in space.” 

Footwear is known to cause minor aches and pains, especially when fashion takes precedence over comfort. When worn regularly it can affect the gait of the individual. Walking barefoot whenever possible will correct many of the unnatural changes caused by footwear. It will also help to reduce pain and inflammation.

“Mindfulness and awareness can be enhanced by walking barefoot,” adds Dr Rajkumar. “You become aware of your surroundings and how your body and mind feel as nature massages the bottom of your feet, awakening the sensory points by feeling different textures for the first time sometimes. It improves blood circulation in the leg and improves sleep. It helps the nervous system shift from the sympathetic mode that is associated with stress to the parasympathetic mode that is calmer and more relaxing.” 

Tread with care

By walking barefoot, one can control the foot position better when it strikes the ground, thus improving balance. Better foot mechanics leads to improved mechanics of the hip, knees and core muscles. Individuals who habitually walk barefoot have stronger feet and less foot and toe deformities.

“Barefoot walking, at least when in the house, must be encouraged as it exercises your underused muscles and gives your feet time to breathe,” says Dr Rajkumar. “But you have to walk with caution and wear footwear if you go to places where the surroundings are unhygienic, and unhealthy. To make the most of grounding we should stay connected with the earth for at least 20 minutes.” 

Takeaways

• The process by which the electrons from the earth surface get transferred to the human body, when in contact, is called earthing/grounding. Earthing happens while walking barefoot. 
• Walking barefoot improves blood circulation in the leg and generates a shift in the nervous system from sympathetic mode to parasympathetic mode. 
• By walking barefoot, one can get better control of foot position when it strikes the ground, improving balance and foot mechanics.