Going Barefoot. . . .A lot of questions answered!

**grundle** · 04-06-2009, 10:42 AM

When I went to Peru my wife's family freaked out when I walked around barefoot. They kept saying I would get a cold, I would get sick, etc. etc.

I just smiled and kept on. Strangely this was out in the "country" where I thought it would be more acceptable. The worse thing that happened was that I got chigger bites, but that was going to happen with or without shoes, so I didn't mind so much.

**bulrush** · 04-08-2009, 10:03 AM

There are 2 main reasons for the requirement to wear shoes in public places in the US: Legonnairre's disease, and plantar's warts.

LD is a fairly deadly disease. It likes moist places, like public camping showers.

Plantar's warts grow on your plantar, an area on the bottom of your foot. I've had one and they can get painful. My systerm had a whole "colony" on one foot. She had to have major burnoff at the doctor's to get rid of them, leaving her foot scarred. They froze off the ones they could, and many were so deep they returned.

So going barefoot really spreads disease in the US.

**crashdive123** · 04-08-2009, 03:33 PM

Bulrush said:There are 2 main reasons for the requirement to wear shoes in public places in the US: Legonnairre's disease, and plantar's warts.

I must disagree. From the CDC web site

Where do Legionella bacteria come from?
The Legionella bacteria are found naturally in the environment, usually in water. The bacteria grow best in warm water, like the kind found in hot tubs, cooling towers, hot water tanks, large plumbing systems, or parts of the air-conditioning systems of large buildings. They do not seem to grow in car or window air-conditioners.

How do people get Legionnaires' disease?
People get Legionnaires' disease when they breathe in a mist or vapor (small droplets of water in the air) that has been contaminated with the bacteria. One example might be from breathing in the steam from a whirlpool spa that has not been properly cleaned and disinfected.

The bacteria are NOT spread from one person to another person.

Outbreaks are when two or more people become ill in the same place at about the same time, such as patients in hospitals. Hospital buildings have complex water systems, and many people in hospitals already have illnesses that increase their risk for Legionella infection.

Other outbreaks have been linked to aerosol sources in the community, or with cruise ships and hotels, with the most likely sources being whirlpool spas, cooling towers (air-conditioning units from large buildings), and water used for drinking and bathing.

**crashdive123** · 04-08-2009, 03:39 PM

What causes Plantar Warts?

Warts are caused by a the human pappiloma virus (HPV). The HPV virus enters the body through a break in the skin. The virus grows in warm, moist environments, such as those created in a locker room or in your shoes when your feet perspire and the moisture is trapped.

So, while you can get plantars warts through breaks in the skin on your feet, it is most likely to occur in a warm and moist environment. I doubt seriously that local boards of health require shoes to prevent plantars warts.

**doug1980** · 04-08-2009, 03:47 PM

When I was a kid most of my friends could flat out run on roads in bare feet...I couldn't even walk in the grass barefooted. Even in the house I have to have on socks, mainly because my feet get cold easy. I have to have my shoes and socks, no sense changing now.

**Rick** · 04-08-2009, 03:54 PM

Ooooh. I thought Legionarie's Disease was the same as Marine, Navy, Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, NG, .......

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**Nativedude** · 04-09-2009, 11:40 PM

EXCELLENT post Crash!!

There are a lot of misconceptions about bare feet.

Foot disease occurs on feet that are "weak". What I mean by weak is: skin on said feet that is thin and too soft.

I have been all around the U.S., Australia, Peru & Canada barefoot. Never have I had a problem with disease or warts or anything of the sort.

Podiatrists will try to convince you that going barefoot is harmful to your posture and musculoskeletal system, but much to the contrary.

As I wrote in my original post. As you wear shoes the soles wear down. As they wear your stride changes and becomes worse and worse. This is why so many people have back problems, slipped disks, compressed disks, and overall, general back problems, as well as, muscle fatigue.

Walking barefoot does not cause these problems. My stride remains the same, my posture remains the same and I no longer get tired or have fatigue when walking long distances. Also, I can walk many, many miles without tiring.