Should you bare your sole indoors?

Skipping socks or footwear can have painful consequences, especially for those with pre-existing conditions

- KEVIN JIANG

Toronto chiropodist Laura Desjardins noticed something odd in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Suddenly there was a surge of people showing up at her clinic complaining of foot pain, dryness and cracking.

As people hunkered down and stayed inside in 2020, they were also spending far more time barefoot, she said.

For many — especially those with prior conditions — the sudden shift to barefoot living came with painful consequences.

“It was just surprising to me how many people don’t even wear socks,” said Desjardins, the owner of LiveActive Sport Medicine. “They’d be walking around barefoot and not only does that sometimes cause foot pain, but also calluses and more dry, cracked feet.”

Even with COVID in the rearview mirror, many remain home working remotely. That can take its toll on our feet, experts say — so should you start wearing shoes indoors?

How going barefoot affects your feet

If your body isn’t used to going barefoot and your feet aren’t conditioned for it, spending prolonged periods standing or walking barefoot can lead to overuse injuries, Desjardins said.