The other day I was in the gym getting ripped, ya you heard me, and I saw this couple walking around barefoot. In the weights area of all places! It took me a second to notice they were wearing the freakiest looking socks/shoes I have ever seen. A couple weeks later one of the trainers in the gym showed up wearing the same contraptions. After a google search I learned that these “shoes” are called Vibram Five Fingers and are designed for all types of fitness and comfort.
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The typical human foot is an anatomical marvel of evolution with 26 bones, 33 joints, 20 muscles, and hundreds of sensory receptors, tendons and ligaments. Like the rest of the body, to keep our feet healthy, they need to be stimulated and exercised.
Many experts believe the shoes we wear not only cast the foot in a protective form, but also weaken our foot and leg muscles, leaving them underdeveloped and more prone to injury. And while there are many occasions where traditional footwear is essential for protection, safety, and security, it is equally important to stimulate and exercise the foot in a more natural state on a regular basis.
That’s why we recommend wearing FiveFingers for exercise, for play, and for fun. Stimulating muscles in your feet and lower legs will not only make you stronger and healthier, it improves your balance, agility and proprioception.
After looking through all of the pages I am still a little skeptical but as I am a lover of all things weird I definitely want to check it out. They look comfortable but I have a feeling I would feel like I was breaking the rules and walking barefoot around the gym. Although I do love breaking rules, what happens when I drop the weight on my foot or trip like I often do?
To see if you are up to the five finger challenge and would like to purchase a pair or find more information their website is: http://www.vibramfivefingers.com
