The Dangers of Barefoot Fun in the Summer

Finally, we are enjoying Summer weather...picnics, hiking, swimming, Block Parties, gardening, and more! It is time for many of us to kick off our shoes and enjoy the feel of barefoot activities. Walking barefoot on safe surfaces certainly has the benefit of strengthening the tiny muscles in our feet, as we do not always use these when our feet are secure and supported in our shoes. However, the lack of protection and support from shoes, can also make barefoot walking very dangerous. Why? I will discuss two of the major ways kicking off your shoes can endanger your feet. 1. It is very easy to step on something when our feet are not protected by shoes. Pet hair, splinters, glass, pebbles, nails, and other objects hiding in the grass or sidewalk can easily penetrate our feet when we are barefoot. An injury from stepping on a foreign object can cause pain, swelling, an open sore or ulcer, infection, and inability to walk. Thus, it is essential to go to Urgent Care, the Emergency Room, or see a podiatrist depending on the situation. X-rays or MRI tests may be needed to locate the object if it cannot be seen or felt during an exam. Under the best circumstances, the foot can be anesthetized, and the object can be removed in the office, surgical center, or hospital. Sometimes, antibiotics, tetanus shots, and surgery are needed in more severe cases. Thus, it is important to protect your feet and limit barefoot walking during the Summer. 2. Running or playing without shoes can increase your risk of injury. The foot is less stable outside of a shoe, especially in the United States, where we start shoes at a very your age. Thus, if you are playing soccer, basketball, tag, or anything similar in the yard, protect your feet and wear your shoes. Already this summer, I have treated many stubbed toes and twists of the foot and ankle due to playing in the yard with no shoes. Do you have foot pain? Please visit my website, oakparkpodiatry.com. By the way, the purpose of this blog is just to give very basic information. I write the blogs myself based on what conditions I am seeing in the office at the time of writing the blog. I am not a professional writer, and I do not pay an outside company for fancy blog posts. I just want to get information out about the feet and keep people thinking about keeping their feet healthy!