The Sole Truth about Modern Footwear
A Demon of our Own Design and It's Twin Insults: Orthopedic and Bioelectrical
Today we’re going to solve two problems without even having to lace up our shoes. In fact, doing so is prohibited—because that’s the problem. The twin insults of modern synthetic footwear, electrical and mechanical, are the root of many modern industrial diseases (MIDs).
This article addresses the Environment component of the SCREEN Framework, and bioenvironmental design specifically. “Bioenvironmental design” includes everything through which we interface with our environment, including footwear.
Neologisms (Andy-isms)
Modern Industrial Disease (MID)
Dysnovation
I’m defining a MID as:
A pathological condition affecting a part, organ, or system of an organism, characterized by impaired function and identifiable signs or symptoms, that is common or epidemic in modern, industrial societies but extremely rare or nonexistent in premodern or non-industrial populations.
Dysnovation:
An innovation that has negative consequences that severely counter or negate its benefits.
Mechano-orthopedic Insult
Modern footwear imposes a chronic mechano-orthopedic insult on the foot, distorting biomechanics, weakening intrinsic musculature, and compromising gait integrity, and as a consequence there are several MIDs that are peculiar to the dysnovation of modern foot sarcophagi:
Plantar Fasciitis
Caused by underuse of intrinsic foot musculature and rigid footwear compressing the plantar fascia. Stretching and transitioning to minimal footwear often alleviates it [1].Hammer Toe
Can result from years of toe gripping (e.g., in flip-flops or narrow shoes) and shortened toe extensors [2].Bunions (Hallux Valgus)
Can result from lateral compression from narrow toe boxes and gait misalignment (e.g., turned-out feet). Often reduced or reversed through barefoot mechanics and foot mobility work [3].Flat Feet / Collapsed Arches
Weakening of arch-stabilizing muscles due to supportive shoes and orthotics over time. Can be improved through barefoot walking and active arch training [4].Achilles Tendinopathy
Chronic shortening of the tendon due to heeled shoes reducing ankle dorsiflexion range [5].Morton’s Neuroma
Caused by compression of nerves between metatarsals, often exacerbated by tight footwear and toe spring [6].Metatarsalgia
Results from altered forefoot load distribution due to toe spring and excessive shock absorption in cushioned soles [1].Knee Valgus / Hip Dysfunction
Foot pronation and abduction from poor footwear mechanics contribute to collapsed knees and weak gluteal activation [7].Reduced Proprioception & Balance
Thick soles and cushioned shoes dull mechanoreceptive input needed for balance and spatial awareness [8].Shortened Stride & Gait Compensation
Elevated heels lead to overstriding and inhibited posterior chain engagement, resulting in inefficient walking patterns [3].Toe Gripping / “Flip-Flop Foot”
A unique dysfunction from wearing footwear that must be clutched by the toes, causing chronic flexor overuse and gait alteration [9].
Bioelectrical Insult
The bioelectrical story is more complicated. Every health influencer and their dutiful congregants are now fluent in the dangers of Reactive Oxidative Species (ROS) and oxidative stress, but few realize that they’ve been standing on part of the solution the whole time. Mother Earth provides an infinite—or close enough to infinite for our purposes—supply of ROS-reducing electrons to anyone who’s willing to take the first barefoot step.
Modern industrial disease is multi-factorial, a combination of electromagnetic frequency (EMF) pollution, pharmaceutical overuse and abuse, synthetic toxins, processed foods, artificial light, reduced exposure to bacteria through cleansers and being indoors, and several other modern dysnovations, but chronic use of synthetic footwear and reducing its use coincide with several MIDs and their alleviation:
Chronic Fatigue
EMFs and ROS overload mitochondria, reducing ATP production and leading to energy deficits. Grounding helps restore mitochondrial function and improve sleep and energy [10].Insomnia & Disrupted Circadian Rhythm
EMFs interfere with melatonin production and sleep cycles. Grounding normalizes cortisol rhythms and improves HRV [11].Electrohypersensitivity (EHS)
Symptoms include headaches, brain fog, dizziness, anxiety, and palpitations—often triggered by EMF exposure and improved with EMF avoidance and earthing [12].Heart Palpitations & Autonomic Dysregulation
Wireless exposure can alter heart rate variability. Grounding has been shown to stabilize parasympathetic tone [13].Anxiety & Mood Disorders
Linked to calcium channel dysregulation from EMFs and chronic inflammation. Earthing reduces inflammatory cytokines and improves serotonin regulation [14].Skin Irritations & Tingling (Neuropathy-like Symptoms)
Often reported in EHS or in people with high ROS burden; reduced with direct Earth contact and EMF minimization [15].Autoimmune Reactivity
EMFs and oxidative stress may act as immune triggers; grounding appears to modulate inflammatory responses [16].Poor Wound Healing / Tissue Regeneration
Natural electrical fields guide healing; EMFs disrupt this, while grounding restores polarity and promotes tissue repair [17].Hypertension & Vascular Inflammation
Blood viscosity is reduced with grounding; EMF exposure increases vascular resistance [18].
Cognitive Fog & Memory Disruption
EMFs disrupt neural coherence; antioxidant electron supply (via grounding) and mechanical movement (e.g., foot stimulation) both restore cognitive clarity [19].
The Solution
It’s as simple as it sounds:
Don’t wear shoes when you don’t have to
Walk barefoot on the ground outside as much as possible
Invest in some simple grounding gear:
Electrically grounded sheets to sleep in: https://amzn.to/43rtqxW
Electrically grounded mats to rest one’s feet on when typing or watching television: https://amzn.to/4d90RbI
There are some caveats. The healthful benefits of barefoot contact with the Earth can be negated by epidermal exposure to herbicides and pesticides or from “stray voltage.” That latter phenomenon can result from:
Electrical systems improperly discharge current into the ground instead of a designated neutral wire
Power lines or transformers leaking current due to poor insulation, grounding errors, or aging infrastructure
Utility return current flowing through the Earth because the neutral wire is either undersized or shared across systems [15]
Exercise caution in manicured lawns and gardens or near utility substations, transformers, or high-voltage lines.
Otherwise, dare to bare! You’ll quickly find that you don’t need shoes for most things. I’m barefoot most of the time: at home, including now as I write this, and also for yoga, weightlifting, and golf.
An easy way for golfers to get their daily grounding in is to take a bucket of balls outside and practice chipping barefoot. The long game is for show—the short game is for dough!
📚 References
[1] K. Bowman, Whole Body Barefoot: Transitioning Well to Minimal Footwear. Sequim, WA: Propriometric Press, 2015.
[2] K. Bowman, Whole Body Barefoot, Ch. 3. Sequim, WA: Propriometric Press, 2015.
[3] K. Starrett, G. Cordoza, and J. Starrett, Deskbound: Standing Up to a Sitting World. Las Vegas, NV: Victory Belt Publishing, 2016.
[4] K. Bowman, Whole Body Barefoot, Ch. 4. Sequim, WA: Propriometric Press, 2015.
[5] K. Starrett et al., Deskbound, Mobility Chapter. Las Vegas, NV: Victory Belt Publishing, 2016.
[6] K. Bowman, Whole Body Barefoot, Nerve Pathologies Section. Sequim, WA: Propriometric Press, 2015.
[7] K. Starrett et al., Deskbound, Movement Mechanics Section. Las Vegas, NV: Victory Belt Publishing, 2016.
[8] B. Greenfield, Boundless: Upgrade Your Brain, Optimize Your Body & Defy Aging. Las Vegas, NV: Victory Belt Publishing, 2020.
[9] K. Bowman, Whole Body Barefoot, Footwear Dysfunction Examples. Sequim, WA: Propriometric Press, 2015.
[10] N. Pineault, The Non-Tinfoil Guide to EMFs. Greenwave Publishing, 2017.
[11] J. Mercola, EMFD: 5G, Wi-Fi & Cell Phones*. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, 2020.
[12] N. Nathan, Toxic: Heal Your Body. Las Vegas, NV: Victory Belt Publishing, 2018.
[13] C. Ober, S. Sinatra, and M. Zucker, Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever?. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, 2014.
[14] B. Greenfield, Boundless, Ch. 24. Las Vegas, NV: Victory Belt Publishing, 2020.
[15] A. L. Gittleman, Zapped: Why Your Cell Phone Shouldn’t Be Your Alarm Clock. New York, NY: HarperOne, 2010.
[16] S. W. Porges, The Polyvagal Theory. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company, 2011.
[17] R. O. Becker and G. Selden, The Body Electric: Electromagnetism and the Foundation of Life. New York, NY: Harper, 1985.
[18] C. Ober et al., Earthing, Viscosity Studies Appendix. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, 2014.
[19] D. Keown, The Spark in the Machine: How the Science of Acupuncture Explains the Mysteries of Western Medicine. London, U.K.: Singing Dragon, 2014.