Hi all, the question about how to toughen the soles has been asked many times already; but from my experience, it's not the thickness/toughness of the plantar skin that matters most, but the thickness of the subcutaneous fatty pads on the weight-bearing surfaces that cushion the unpleasant and unhealthy (and painful) shocks when walking over hard uneven surfaces (like uneven pavings or rocky terrains). IMHO, "fleshy"/"meaty" soles adapt better to these surfaces. Is there any way to train/condition the subcutaneous tissues? E.g., I've heard that some ladies who like to wear high heels a lot get some colagen-based substance ("restylan" or smth) injected into their soles, to improve cushioning and avoid foot pain. Is there any way to improve the cushioning in a "natural" way?
um...walk barefoot a lot? I dunno. I have soles like you're describing. I used to dance en pointe without any kind of padding...and the insides of those shoes are rough and stiff and squished. I think you answered your own question though. "natural"...is there any natural way besides plain old walking?
I'd hypothesize that long-term barefooting over a variety of surfaces will build up muscle, tendon, subcutaneous and plantar tissues in proportions appropriate to your genetics. Combined with mechanical abrasion and simultaneous application of surfactants in an aqueous solution followed by the application of emollients q.d, this regimen will build strong, healthy and durable feet. In other words, walk barefoot all of the time, everywhere, take good care of your feet, cleaning them and applying lotion at the end of the day (controversial, I know) and the rest will come of its own accord.
I guess you dance on even surfaces (floor), but I meant a different thing. For example, if there are small (size ~1 cm (~1/2 inch)) sharp pebbles scattered on a hard surface (asphalt) and you step on them, they will press hard against the bones of the balls of the feet (metatarsals) and the heels (calcaneus) which is quite uncomfortable and painful. The skin, no matter how tough it is, doesn't help in this case - it just transfers the pressure. But, if there is a thick padding under the skin (plantar fat pad), it redistributes and cushions the pressure. In short, I refer to the tissue under the skin on the balls and heels of the feet - the pads on the weight-bearing surfaces of the soles. But rough insides of the shoes only affect the skin, not the deeper tissues. Does it mean your soles are, like, plump and meaty? Can you walk comfortably over, e.g., crushed stones (like railway bedding)? My soles are rather "skinny" and, even though the skin is quite thick and tough, these surfaces are quite painful for me. Unfortunately, these tissues are neither muscles nor tendons that can be trained and conditioned; these are fibrous tissues and fat. I don't know if it is possible to build them up. It only affects skin, but not the deeper issues. Anyway, thanks for comments
I have adjusted my diet to include foods that are supposed to be good for skin and joints, namely oily fish, such as sardines, and plenty of fruit & veg. I also take a supplement called glucosamine sulphate, which your body uses to make collagen and connective tissue (so it says on the pack!). It seemed to work for me when i fractured my elbow;- it kept going "clunk-click" and seemed to be getting worse, but after a few weeks on GS it was as good as new, so i assume its good for all those little joints in my feet!
your point is correct. it's not "callouses" that matters, it is the strenght of the tissues beneath the skin's surface that makes the difference. proof of this is that when your feet are fresh you can walk on nearly everything but if they get tired, the muscle tension of your 'pads' loosens and they start growing sensitive. at least in my experience. the therapy: shun footwear and walk. walk. walk. it's that simple like all natural things and definitely not a complicated issue. only dont push too hard. i dont think that diet is a problem unless you are starving. the tricky thing is that it takes years to recover from an atrophy of a lifetime.
the more you barefoot the better it feels, the better it feels the more you barefoot. I've read that the fatty pads thin out as we age, but it hasn't been a problem for me. I'm comfortable on even the most aggresive surfaces. I think muscular feet and well developed soles can cope with every terrain. The idea of injecting someting into my feet is not something I'd feel comfortable with. All the ideas posted here sound like good advice. But the idea of walking more and more seems to have worked best for me. You can mix in some running, hiking and other activities and try every surface you can find. The variety would be fun. A good diet is healthy for everyone. Please let the group know how you progress.
walk on rough surfaces more, like sidewalks and pavement. it's gonna hurt at first. but after a while it toughens and you can't feel anything. i walk in my basement a lot, which is carpeted by this really rough stuff. that's how my souls got tough, in addition to my gravel driveway. now i can walk down my gravel drive way without blinking.
I find the asphalt seems to wear off your soles...to the point where I had a hard time walking. You CAN walk some distance on it, if your feet are already tough. To do that, it really quite simple/painful Find a lot/path/whatever with coarse, sharp gravel. Start walking, remembering to keep as much weight as possible on the ball of your feet. This will hurt like hell the first few times. Grin and bear it, it's worth it. About three years ago I used to jog barefoot on such a surface (back when I weighed 350, mind you) in Rhinebeck, NY. After a month, it felt like I was wearing flipflops all the time, minus the little plasticky bits. I could still feel the ground, but completely without pain. Humid 95 degree days on smooth black cement were no longer a problem at all! Don't be concerned if other people happen to be present. That bothered me at first, but seriously, just take it slow, and don't be all like "ooh...AAH!". Just smile, and keep on walking!
As i live in town, i walk on pavements a lot, up to ten miles a week. It's very important, i find, to get the "gait" just right. I swing my hips, "reach" for the ground, so to speak, with my forefoot, which i find automatically pulls my toes up out of the way, and step straight down, to avoid any scuffing or friction with the ground. I recently walked seven miles around London with a friend (who is lucky enough to go barefoot 24/7) and my feet felt pretty much the same after as they did before. That is to say, real good!
