Studies on the long-term effects of habitual barefoot walking or running are scarce, and there is only limited evidence for more foot problems and no evidence for higher injury rates among people who are often barefoot, according to a new review.
"Having the huge 'barefoot debate,' in mind, we expected more evidence on the long-term effects of barefoot locomotion," said lead author Karsten Hollander of the Institute of Human Movement Science at the University of Hamburg in Germany.
Some populations — for example, South Africa — include many people who are habitually barefoot, Hollander said.
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