Barefoot shoes: The heel is at the same height from the ground as the toes

The heel is at the same height from the ground as the toes. When we stand barefoot on the ground, the angle between our feet and the ground is 90°. If we put on, for example, 5 cm heels, our body would have an angle of only 70° (leaning forwards if we maintained an upright posture) unless we adjusted. To maintain an upright posture, a whole series of joints must adjust their position (ankles, knees, hips, spine and head). If we wear raised heels over a long period, these unnatural loads become chronic and contribute to pain in the legs, back and shoulders, while increasing fatigue.

When standing barefoot, 50% of our weight is on the balls of our feet and 50% is on the heels. If we wear heels, this ratio is disrupted so that most of the weight falls on the balls of the feet; the higher the heel, the more uneven the distribution of weight, reaching a ratio of 10:90 with very high heels.

Footwear with a heel (low or high) also leads to the shortening of the Achilles tendon and calf muscles and reduces foot endurance.

After years of wearing heels, the body adapts, and many women feel as though they might fall backwards in flat shoes. In this case, we recommend wearing so-called transition footwear. You can find this in our sports-elegant range; these are shoes with a flexible sole, where the heel is up to 1 cm higher than the forefoot, and a spacious toe box.

With strong, capable feet, we can be more dynamic and creative, so it is worth making the effort to choose footwear that allows our feet to move with their natural walking dynamics.