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This article is from the Living Barefoot FAQ, by Paul J. Lucas with numerous contributions by others.

06 Don't toughened soles lose feeling?

[Contributed by Mike Berrow <mberrow@lexica.net>.]

Most barefooters don't get really thick and hard callouses. More
usually, the sole simply becomes thicker while retaining flexibility
(not really stiff or hard). The actual degree of toughness seems to
vary a lot among barefooters.

Any slight reduction in sensitivity due to thickening is more than
compensated for by continued development of the sensory receptors in
the soles (possibly also the relevant part of the brain).

Did you ever get too much wax (or some water) in your ear for a while
and then when you get it out all sounds seemed to be really _loud_? If
you did, you'll understand the following:

For some, when they first start going barefoot, the ground is too
"loud" -- it's like listening to a lot of unpleasant noise. After a
while, however, your body adjusts and you begin to "hear the music."

Really, if we couldn't feel the ground, that would take away a large
part of the pleasure of walking barefoot. We enjoy everything from the
"rough, scratchy" feeling of gravel to the soft, damp moss on fallen
trees. Many of the sensations are nothing short of delicious!


SECTION 3: Health

 

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