Nice pro-barefoot article.

Got this one through the SBL list, very nice article about walking barefoot.

http://www.newindpress.com/sunday/sundayitems.asp?id=SEL20050520060337&eTitle=Living&rLink=0

 

I really liked that article, I go barefoot about 95% of the time anyway, but this'll just encourage me

 

excellent article, I think we all need to copy it and have it ready for shoddy relatives that berate us for going barefoot.

 

We have this pamphlet called "Good Times", related to the Healthamerica insurance. There's an article in there about how to prevent falls, and it's kind of interesting, and not in a way most here would agree with I'm sure. Here's what it says: (The last paragraph is the meat of it, but the context is better with the whole article)
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"Fall Prevention - The shoes you should use"

Falling is a concern of most older Americans, and for good reason. The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that falling is the leading cause of accidental death and disability in people over age 65. Falls injure or kill about 400,000 people 65 years of age or older every year.

Many factors contribute to loss of balance, which is a leading cause of falls, including medication, disease, poor vision, and weakness. Another, easily correctable cause, may be your shoes.

A study from the University of Washington found that athletic shoes are the best choice for people over 65. Those wearing other types of footwear were 30 percent more likely to fall than people in good old sneakers.

Whatever you do, wear something on your feet. Those going barefoot had the greatest risk of falling.
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How about that. You less likely to fall wearing *any* type of shoes, than if you're barefoot. Even clunky shoes that get in your way as you walk down steps. Now, I'm not a barefooter, but I know that even wearing socks, when they get stretched out can be hazardous and I've stumbled on them, though I'm usually careful. And some shoes can trip you when they're new. Seems like an odd thing in a health article.