Is It Healthy To Go Barefoot All Day — Or Should I Wear Shoes?

Going barefoot in an office may be a bit of a faux pas, but kicking off your shoes at home is totally acceptable. While forgoing shoes is one perk of working from home, is it healthy to be barefoot all day?

While there are some benefits to walking barefoot, certain factors, such as a person's foot type, the time they spend standing, and the type of surface they're standing or walking on can make it not so healthy, says Robert Kornfeld, DPM. 

There are two common foot-type classifications: rigid and flexible. People with rigid foot types have less of a problem walking barefoot on grass, carpet, or other soft surfaces. Whereas people with flexible feet function better on harder surfaces, like wood or tile, he explains. 

Not sure which type you have? Take a look at your feet. Kornfeld says, if you have a high arch with contracted digits and a bump on the top of the foot, it's probably rigid. If you have a low arch, bunions, or hammertoe, it's probably flexible.

"If the foot is pushed past its physiologic limits, then cellular injury can occur," Kornfeld says. Generally, a primary inflammation pathway in the body helps to repair and replace injured or dead cells. If the injury persists or the pathway is ineffective, it may lead to chronic inflammation and pain in the foot, Kornfeld explains. 

Older adults or people with compromised immune systems from poor diet, dehydration, inadequate sleep, stress, parasites, or digestive orders, are at a higher risk of chronic pain syndromes, he adds. 

One of the most common injuries from prolonged standing is plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation of the ligament that supports the arch. "The band (the plantar fascia) supports four layers of muscles running from the heel through the arch of your foot to your toes," board-certified podiatrist Doug Tumen, DPM, FACFAS, writes for mbg. "Pain is usually felt where the plantar fascia attaches to the bottom of the heel bone." 

Because everyone's feet are different, seeing a podiatrist or physical therapist to determine the best plan of action for yourself would be helpful. A good rule of thumb, though, would be to go barefoot or wear slippers while sitting but a supportive shoe while standing. Kornfeld recommends a soft sneaker with orthotics in them, even at home.