"Tetanus Risk" vs "I Found It Effective"... Debate Over 'Barefoot Walking'

Increase in Barefoot Walking Population... Local Events Also Held

Amid a barefoot walking craze among middle-aged and older adults, a story has sparked heated debate after a patient who intended to join barefoot walking after receiving a tetanus shot was stopped by a doctor.

[Image source=Pixabay]

Recently, a post titled "My attending professor told me to never do barefoot walking" was uploaded on an online community. The author, Patient A, has underlying conditions of hypertension and hyperlipidemia and is taking related medications.

He said, "I went to pick up my medication and heard that barefoot walking is good, so I said I was going to get a tetanus shot and try it," adding, "The doctor made a big X sign with both arms and strongly advised me not to do it."

The doctor told Patient A, "One reason humans have longer lifespans is because of shoes. Do you have to suffer from barefoot walking to realize that?" and advised, "Don't get swept up in the barefoot walking craze; wear shoes and exercise diligently."

Netizens who read the story were divided in opinion. Some said, "There is no medical evidence supporting the benefits of barefoot walking," "It is unhygienic and could be dangerous if you get pricked by sharp objects," and "Don't suffer unnecessarily." On the other hand, some countered, "It provides acupressure and is good," "If done on soft soil, it is not burdensome," and "I have seen effects myself."

Regarding the actual benefits of barefoot walking, opinions are also divided in academia. A research team from Kyungpook National University's Department of Physical Education divided male students into barefoot and sneaker groups and had them walk for 30 minutes, measuring bodily changes afterward. The study found that the barefoot group experienced greater weight loss effects than the sneaker group.

Barefoot walking club members taking barefoot walking certification photos.

Shoes serve to protect the soles of the feet from the ground, prevent slipping, and provide cushioning, thereby enhancing physical function. This means that walking barefoot on the ground requires much more physical energy than walking with shoes on.

On the other hand, there are warnings that barefoot walking can actually be harmful to the body. When walking with shoes, the body's weight load is evenly distributed to the joints and shoes, but when walking barefoot, the body must bear the full weight. This can lead to damage to cartilage or ligaments, or injury to the plantar fascia, potentially causing various diseases.

The barefoot walking craze continues to spread. Several local governments, including Seoul, Yongin, Hanam, and Ulsan, are creating dedicated roads specialized for barefoot walking. At the 'Five Senses Manjok Mungyeong Saejae Barefoot Festival' held last month in Gyeongbuk, about 3,000 people gathered.