Are Barefoot Shoes Good for Weightlifting?
If you’re looking for a suitable pair of shoes for weightlifting, you must consider barefoot shoes as an option. It allows flexible movements while working out, allowing enhanced performance. But, are barefoot shoes good for weightlifting?
Barefoot shoes are good for weightlifting. Wearing a pair of barefoot shoes activates the feet and ankle muscles of the body. Additionally, weightlifting can exert a lot of pressure on the feet. Barefoot shoes make it easy by enhancing the force production of the lifter through allowing greater muscle activity in the legs.
It is necessary to talk in detail about the reasons why barefoot shoes are good for weightlifting. Weightlifting requires a lot of practice and strength. Balance is also a significant factor as not all bodies can balance heavy objects with their foot strength. Choosing proper shoes while working out should be the priority. Thus, it is best to undergo extensive research about it. Let’s start!
Why Should You Wear Barefoot Shoes for Weightlifting?
Weightlifting barefoot is beneficial, but wearing barefoot shoes provides more benefits. It protects the feet along with the benefits of exercising barefoot. Here are some reasons why you should wear barefoot shoes for weightlifting:
- Improves Stability and Grip
Barefoot shoes tend to have a stable base. A stable base is necessary for weightlifting as you need an immense amount of strength to lift barbells or heavyweight. Having a stable base enhances force production, with which it is possible to lift easily.
Most barefoot shoes also have a wide toe box, which makes the shoes more stable. Feet can exert more force against the ground if they are closer to the ground. They can engage properly with the ground. Overall, it encourages more stability to the foot muscles, especially when deadlift weightlifting.
- Boosts Power and Strength
When lifting heavy objects off the ground, a lifter fights against gravity with the help of their legs, back, and core. During that time, their legs experience a lot of pressure from the action. The thick soles of traditional shoes absorb the force. If they wear barefoot shoes, the force would be absorbed by the body to help lift the heavy objects with greater force.
It usually happens as the muscles and ligaments are activated. Wearing barefoot shoes stimulates muscles while lifting to a greater extent. The activated muscles and ligaments will help produce more force, given that the lifter is trained. As a result weight lifting becomes easier and also safer.
- Better Balance and Posture of the Feet
Wearing barefoot shoes, you can notice an improvement in the posture of your feet. It makes the plantarflexion easier to achieve. The movement of the foot to a downward position is especially required when weightlifting while squatting.
Weightlifting can be difficult; it may disrupt the balance of the body and feet. Wearing these shoes will improve the balance of the feet besides fixing the posture. Your body will coordinate better with the feet as the nerve endings in your feet will be able to send more signals to your brain. In simple words, your feet can sense the ground under it due to the thin sole of barefoot shoes.
The brain can now send signals to the body so that it can lift the heaviest objects. It also avoids the risk of slipping, stumbling, or falling. Thus, being aware of the surface and having a better balance prevents severe injuries and losses. It is also known as proprioception.
- Can Lift Heavier Weights
As a result of stability, balance, and good posture, a lifter can lift heavier weights. It is especially true when wearing barefoot shoes while performing hinge movements. Hinge movements such as a deadlift or a kettlebell swing activate larger muscles in the body.
Activating the larger muscles in the legs and hips allows the body to be more flexible over time. Eventually, the lifters can gain more strength and lift heavier weights. It only helps improve the athletes over time.
Other Benefits of Wearing Barefoot Shoes
There are other benefits of wearing barefoot shoes. It is not beneficial when weightlifting only, but also while working out to perform different exercises. Let’s take a look at some of these benefits of wearing barefoot shoes:
Prevents Pain
While running or walking wearing traditional shoes, there’s a negative impact on the knee and hip joints. The joint pain may discourage people from walking or running regularly. Wearing barefoot shoes will reduce the pain to help them walk properly.
The balls of the feet will land on the ground with more stability and grip. It may prevent minor knee injuries. Even if you have existing joint pain, using barefoot shoes for a long time may reduce or disappear the pain. It is because it allows all the foot muscles to react when the feet land on the balls of the feet.
Relaxes Feet
According to a study, walking with barefoot shoes reduces blood pressure levels. It also reduces the stress of a person as it lowers the stress hormone known as cortisol. Cortisol is responsible for inducing our flight or fight response. So, when this hormone is reduced, so does our stress and anxiety.
As a result, it can make a person feel more relaxed and tension-free. It serves as a break from the struggles of wearing thick soles.
Relaxed feet will encourage you to feel healthy again. It regains the energy and encourages you to engage in other exercises such as running, squatting, etc. Promoting a healthy life is essential, and it starts with your foot energy. And feeling like you’re wearing nothing under your feet produces more foot energy.
Conclusion
Are barefoot shoes good for weightlifting? I am sure you are equipped with all the information you need to answer this question. Since you are now aware of its benefits, it is time you change your traditional shoes for weightlifting.
If you’re finding it difficult to look for quality barefoot shoes, check out our collection of barefoot shoes. Thank you for going through the article. Happy weightlifting!