What’s the advantage of lifting weights while barefoot?
It may seem counterintuitive to go shoeless after all that time you spend in your sneakers, but there are a number of benefits to going bare. “When you are barefoot, your core, or center of power, is more stable. And the more stable your core is, the stronger you are and the more weight you can push,” notes Emily Splichal, D.P.M., a podiatrist based in New York and author of Barefoot Strong. But it’s not just muscular strength that matters. “Our feet and core are connected through fasciae and neuromuscular pathways, which is a fancy way of saying when we engage our feet we engage our deep core muscles,” adds Splichal. “Since our feet are the only contact point between the body and the ground, going barefoot to lift makes us better connected to the core.” Also since you are putting a little more stress on your feet, remember to progress slowly when lifting while barefoot.
