I don’t know that this is so much ‘commentary’ as ‘discovery’, but I’m not making a new category for it. I ran across some research recently that touted the seemingly-miraculous benefits of going barefoot or, at least, wearing flip-flops. Some studies in arthritis suggest that stabilizing footwear (i.e. really sturdy or cushiony shoes) actually increase the stress load on a person’s joints. Nature, evolution, or what-have-you did, in fact, design the human foot to work without accessory, even if a modern paved world full of broken glass and rusty nails makes going barefoot a hazard to be reckoned with. I wasn’t terribly keen to put the theory to test, and haven’t worn flip-flops since my early childhood. But, ever the adventurer, I parted with $6 and took my own feet out for a test drive. Literally.
Walking around going ‘flip-flop, flip-flop’ isn’t my cup of tea, and my preoccupation with keeping my feet snug, clean, and respectable in shoes has made the experiment something of a trial. I suppose, honestly, that my knees do feel a little better but I can’t say if that’s from the flip-flops or other factors. What I can say, for sure, is that I’m developing a strange passion for driving barefoot.
Now, before anyone freaks out or jumps to point out the error of my ways, let me assure you, dear readers, it’s not illegal. At least, not in my state. (Driving barefoot isn’t legal in all states, and laws vary according to motorcycle operation and barefootedness. But, most states do not prohibit driving barefoot.) Why, you may ask, would anyone want to? Let me count the ways… (both of them!).
Depending on your car and the length of your legs, driving barefoot can make it easier to engage the clutch. Odd, but true, freeing the human foot from its shoe-cage makes it a little easier to push in the clutch pedal and, sometimes, every little bit of additional ease helps. Also, when driving in stop-and-go traffic, being able to rest one’s leg by curling one’s toes around the pedal (rather than using the leg muscles to keep the foot poised at the pedal), helps as well.
The other reason… it’s really interesting to feel the pedals and the reactions of the car through your feet. I don’t expect revelations in the handling of the vehicle or any great secrets of engine maintenance or tire-and-road interaction to be revealed this way… but I won’t exclude the possibility just yet. I’m not saying it’s the greatest experience in the world and that everyone should try it. I’m just saying it’s interesting. I’m also not saying people should go free-wheeling around the world without footwear (it’s an unpredictable world full of sharp rocks and, what’s more, my feet are cold all the time), but, if you’re looking to test a theory or you just want to feel things with your feet, summer may be the time to shell out six bucks and give it a whirl.
Stay tuned for my follow up report, doubtless in the near future, of how something cut, stung, or otherwise harassed one of my feet and how I learned an unpleasant lesson (is there any other kind?)
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on Thursday, July 1st, 2010 at 11:42 am and is filed under Commentary.
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Shamelessly Naked (feet)
I don’t know that this is so much ‘commentary’ as ‘discovery’, but I’m not making a new category for it. I ran across some research recently that touted the seemingly-miraculous benefits of going barefoot or, at least, wearing flip-flops. Some studies in arthritis suggest that stabilizing footwear (i.e. really sturdy or cushiony shoes) actually increase the stress load on a person’s joints. Nature, evolution, or what-have-you did, in fact, design the human foot to work without accessory, even if a modern paved world full of broken glass and rusty nails makes going barefoot a hazard to be reckoned with. I wasn’t terribly keen to put the theory to test, and haven’t worn flip-flops since my early childhood. But, ever the adventurer, I parted with $6 and took my own feet out for a test drive. Literally.
Walking around going ‘flip-flop, flip-flop’ isn’t my cup of tea, and my preoccupation with keeping my feet snug, clean, and respectable in shoes has made the experiment something of a trial. I suppose, honestly, that my knees do feel a little better but I can’t say if that’s from the flip-flops or other factors. What I can say, for sure, is that I’m developing a strange passion for driving barefoot.
Now, before anyone freaks out or jumps to point out the error of my ways, let me assure you, dear readers, it’s not illegal. At least, not in my state. (Driving barefoot isn’t legal in all states, and laws vary according to motorcycle operation and barefootedness. But, most states do not prohibit driving barefoot.) Why, you may ask, would anyone want to? Let me count the ways… (both of them!).
Depending on your car and the length of your legs, driving barefoot can make it easier to engage the clutch. Odd, but true, freeing the human foot from its shoe-cage makes it a little easier to push in the clutch pedal and, sometimes, every little bit of additional ease helps. Also, when driving in stop-and-go traffic, being able to rest one’s leg by curling one’s toes around the pedal (rather than using the leg muscles to keep the foot poised at the pedal), helps as well.
The other reason… it’s really interesting to feel the pedals and the reactions of the car through your feet. I don’t expect revelations in the handling of the vehicle or any great secrets of engine maintenance or tire-and-road interaction to be revealed this way… but I won’t exclude the possibility just yet. I’m not saying it’s the greatest experience in the world and that everyone should try it. I’m just saying it’s interesting. I’m also not saying people should go free-wheeling around the world without footwear (it’s an unpredictable world full of sharp rocks and, what’s more, my feet are cold all the time), but, if you’re looking to test a theory or you just want to feel things with your feet, summer may be the time to shell out six bucks and give it a whirl.
Stay tuned for my follow up report, doubtless in the near future, of how something cut, stung, or otherwise harassed one of my feet and how I learned an unpleasant lesson (is there any other kind?)
Tags: bare feet, driving, rusty nails
This entry was posted on Thursday, July 1st, 2010 at 11:42 am and is filed under Commentary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.