When you wear shoes your feet feel unstable, which prevents muscles from moving. As a result, your body will naturally enable you to apply less force, which will reduce the effectiveness of your workout.
A good quality pair of sneakers is considered an essential part of a good workout. But nowadays many people are seen working out barefoot in the gym. Sneakers can provide the support, comfort, and stability to help athletes excel in their sport and avoid injuries in the gym. But some say that working out barefoot offers many other benefits such as improved mobility.
While it’s true that working out barefoot can have its benefits — mainly, improving balance and coordination by keeping the feet directly connected to the ground — it’s not for every person or every activity. In some cases, it can do more harm than good. On the positive side, it can help strengthen your feet and improve proprioception. On the other hand, there can be some risks to exercising without shoes.
We spoke to lifestyle and fitness expert Yash Agarwal about both the advantages and disadvantages of barefoot workouts.
Benefits of barefoot exercise
1 Certain muscles are activated
Muscles and muscle groups that are not used while wearing shoes will be activated when you exercise without shoes or other accessories.
2 The leg works more actively
You can exercise your foot more actively and intensively. As a result, your foot can move freely and be positioned anywhere, causing all the tissues of the foot to work harder.
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3 legs allow better balance
Your feet are in a natural position, so you can maintain better balance and posture during your exercise sessions. Your bare feet will be able to feel and sense the surface beneath them better.
4 Increases effectiveness
When you wear shoes your feet feel unstable, which prevents muscles from moving. As a result, your body will naturally enable you to apply less force, which will reduce the effectiveness of your workout.
By applying pressure to the ground with bare feet, you can greatly increase the effectiveness of your workout. More force and resistance leads to more muscle growth and larger mass.
Side effects of barefoot exercise
If you don’t wear protective footwear, you could fall and hit a sharp object. This may not seem like a big concern, but if you’re trying to squat with 300 pounds or lift 400 pounds, it could seriously hurt you.
A major concern is the possibility of suffering a variety of injuries when exercising barefoot and squatting without shoes. If you lose control and drop a 50-pound plate on your bare foot, injuries are practically the typical result. However, even the most durable sneaker can provide little defense in this situation.
The possibility of fungal infections is a topic that comes up regularly when exercising or sitting barefoot. Athlete’s foot and other fungi thrive in gym environments and can spread when exposed to bare feet. Working out at home or in another private setting can reduce this risk as there aren’t as many other people using the same space, reducing the chance of contracting a fungal infection.
conclusion
There are many workouts that do not require shoes. These include workouts like yoga, Pilates, and strength training. In fact, walking without shoes can even help improve your performance for these low-impact workouts.
However, there are other home workouts where wearing shoes is not optional, and not wearing them can lead to a weakened workout or even injury. If you are unsure whether you need to wear shoes for a particular workout, consult a fitness expert.
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