Can barefoot running / walking cause RA?

Róbert Šarudy

Guest
Hello,
two years passed since I transitioned to barefoot lifestyle. Basically I live barefoot. Whether I am at office or at home I am always barefoot. When I run, I wear sandals or thin leather moccasins to protect my skin, since I prefer rough trail. I usually run 70 miles per week.

Currently it is winter at my place. I wear those thin moccasins on snow. People I hang out with started telling me that this lifestyle will cause RA condition. They ask me if I am not cold, or don't get flu. I usually tell them that no. I am perfectly fine, I wasn't sick for three years, my body has adopted to colder conditions and I just don't get easily sick any more. Their reply usually is: "Yes, you are young, but wait until you get older. You won't be able to walk..."

What should I tell them? I am no doctor with any medical degree. And I have no idea what consequences can barefoot walking in cold winter cause in the long term.
 
What should I tell them? I am no doctor with any medical degree. And I have no idea what consequences can barefoot walking in cold winter cause in the long term.

That they are wrong. Offer anyone $1000 if they can show you any science backing up their position.
Trust me, your money will be safe.
 
Ignorance is contagious, I'm afraid.

Are you currently having any problems with your feet, Robert?
 
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RA is an auto immune disease. As with all auto immune diseases nobody really understands what causes it. The people you're
hanging out with are suggesting that exposing your feet to the cold is going to send a a message to your brain to have it start degenerating and destroying specific joints in response. That's not how RA works.
 
I am "old" in some people's estimation, when it comes to things like that. Being barefoot most of the time ( and very minimalist when I have anything on my feet), I can say that I am much stronger and healthier because of being barefoot and all that happens due to there being much less stress on the body.
 
i have people who ask me if my feet are cold. i tell them no and ask them if theirs are. they say yes and i tell them they have a problem since they're wearing shoes. we laugh.

just today someone told me he got cold looking at my bf. i told him looking at his, in shoes, made me hot. we laughed.

hit them back with something true like that, even stupid. they may see the stupidity in their statement. may.
 
That they are wrong. Offer anyone $1000 if they can show you any science backing up their position.
Trust me, your money will be safe.


So far all is fine with my feet and legs. Since living barefoot my feet feel healthier and better than before. I don't feel any pain when there is cold outside or even when it is below zero. Usually I feel common fatigue on my joints after longer runs - 30-40K , but this fatigue is only about proper recovery I guess.
 
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