shoes, well, outdoors, and that has to do with keeping the soles of our shoes from tracking

dirt, grime, toxins like pesticides and industrial pollution, and traces of both human and animal

waste into our homes.

Outdoor shoes are even known to offer free passes to bacteria that can cause health issues,

although that risk could be slightly exaggerated, according to The New York Times.

Many cultures practice shoe-free homes across Asia and the Middle East. But is the option

of going barefoot at home a habit we should all be adopting?

According to some podiatrists, the answer is no. And it's not because they aren't concerned

about having us invite a few germs and some grime into the house. Rather, they worry that

going barefoot around the house could open up our feet to developing different types

of structural injuries.

Podiatrist Phil Vasyli says our feet were actually designed for walking on softer, natural

surfaces, like sand and soil, not polished hard ones, so we may be damaging our feet

by traipsing around our houses without any shoes on. As he explained,

"Our footprint allows the natural ground to accommodate the contours of our feet. The

softer ground gives way to our heel at foot strike, allowing the outside of the foot to

sink into the surface, which correspondingly supports the inside of our foot and the collapse

of our arch."

Because many household surfaces are hard, New York podiatrist Miguel Cunha says walking

around indoors shoes-free puts pressure on our feet, causing the foot's arches to collapse

- and that in turn puts pressure on different parts of our body. The expert is especially

concerned about pronation, the rolling of the foot inward, which allows feet to support

our body weight. He explained,

"When we walk barefoot, we pronate for a longer period of time, which then alters the biomechanics

and distribution of pressure and weight across the foot. This imbalance may increase the

progression of underlying foot deformities such as bunions and hammertoes and lead to

painful conditions associated with excessive pronation such as arch and heel pain, shin

splints, posterior tibial tendonitis and Achilles tendonitis."

And if you think throwing on a pair of squishy flip flops is the way to go, think again.

The same worry applies here, too. According to Dr. Vasyli,

"Contrary to common belief, shock absorption is not the answer to conditions associated

with misalignment of the feet and lower limbs. Sure, they feel comfortable but soft, flat

foot beds allow the feet to over-pronate."

Walking barefoot at home is especially not ideal if you are older. Podiatrist Nelya Lobkova

tells Yahoo Lifestyle,

“After age 50, especially women, begin to lose the fat pad in the ball of the foot,

diminishing the cushioning."

That change hurts one's ability to protect the knees, hips, and lower back.

Meanwhile, a study by the Marcus Institute for Aging Research also shows that walking

around the house without shoes has contributed to falls among the elderly in general. Many

falls resulted in serious injuries, including fractures, sprains, dislocations, and either

pulled or torn muscles, ligaments, or tendons. According to researcher Marian Hannan,

"Our findings show that older people going barefoot, wearing only socks, or wearing slippers

may be at considerably increased risk of falls in their homes. Therefore, older people should

wear shoes at home whenever possible to minimize their risk of falling."

Another thing to keep in mind might be a germaphobe's worst nightmare. Your floors may be clean,

but they can't really ever be completely germ free, and Dr. Cunha says walking barefoot

indoors exposes your feet to potential infections caused by bacteria and fungi. As he described

it,

"These organisms first infect the skin, and then they may infect the nails, leading to

thickening, discoloration and brittleness of the nails. Both conditions become not only

unsightly but also contribute to an unpleasant odor."

The best way to protect your feet is to pick up a good pair of indoor shoes, which you

can change into when you get home. Doctors recommend looking for a pair that provides

good arch support, particularly if you already suffer from a foot condition, such as weak

arches or bunions.

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