Going barefoot to develop strength in your toes


Like most men, I've never given any thought to my feet, and toes, when I've been thinking about training for strength. I've always worn good shoes, with plenty of support, and have rarely gone barefoot except when I'm swimming, and as my feet and toes got weaker and weaker I realized that that was a mistake.

This year I'm working on "Feets of Strength", and am discovering how connected your toes are to the rest of your body. And if you're like me, just barely beginning on developing stronger feet and toes, you will be surprised at how much your muscles will protest, from your toes to your calves and even your back. So go slowly.

If you compare your feet to your hands you can see how this type of weakness and lack of coordination happens. Imagine enclosing your hands in a "hand shoe" that didn't allow you to move your fingers independently, and that's what you're doing to your feet when you're always wearing shoes, especially shoes with good support.

Now calm down there, I'm talking about muscular weakness, not impaired structure. If you have impaired structure, this isn't for you - this is for people like me who have simply neglected all of the muscles in their feet and toes.

And no, I'm not suggesting that you go out running in the forest barefoot, or swing through the jungle barefoot like Tarzan, just take your shoes off and walk around the house a little bit, like I'm doing this morning.

Building strength in your feet and toes is just like doing it anywhere else in your body. Want stronger biceps? Train them, let them recover, and repeat. That's how muscle works. Of course no one in the gym will be admiring the muscles in your feet the same way that they'll admire your bulging biceps, but it will show in the way that you move, the way that you walk.

So that's where you start. I'll let you know how it goes for me.

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