Shoes Not Required: A Case for Going Barefoot

Maybe my kids knew something I didn’t. Growing up in Arkansas, it was practically a rite of passage to run around barefoot. Shoes were optional most of the time — as long as you had them on for church, you were good. I can’t tell you how many times we had to do a “shoe check” before leaving the house, or turned the car around because someone (probably more than once) forgot their shoes entirely. But maybe they were onto something. Maybe barefoot wasn’t just “country” or careless — maybe it was intuitive. Natural. Even healthy.

Grounding: What Is It?

There’s actually a name for this barefoot practice: grounding, or earthing. It’s the simple act of making direct skin contact with the surface of the Earth — usually by walking barefoot on grass, dirt, or sand.

Why does this matter?

Our bodies are made up of electrical systems — your brain, heart, and nervous system all run on bioelectric signals. The Earth, too, carries a subtle negative charge. The idea behind grounding is that direct contact allows free electrons from the Earth’s surface to flow into our bodies, helping neutralize excess positive charge (which can result from things like stress, inflammation, EMF exposure, etc.).

The Health Benefits of Going Barefoot

While more research is ongoing, studies and anecdotal reports suggest some interesting benefits to grounding:

• Reduces inflammation – Some studies have shown that grounding can decrease markers of inflammation and pain.

• Improves sleep – Grounding may help regulate circadian rhythms and improve sleep quality.

• Enhances mood and reduces stress – Being connected to the Earth has been shown to lower cortisol levels and improve mental clarity.

• Supports immune function – Grounding may have a positive influence on immune response, making your body more resilient.

• Lowers blood viscosity – Which is a fancy way of saying it may reduce your risk for cardiovascular issues.

Even if you're skeptical about the science, we already know that being in nature, getting sunlight, and reducing screen time all improve wellbeing — and grounding offers a chance to do all three at once.

A Moment Worth Repeating

Remember that scene from Pretty Woman? Vivian and Edward, dressed to the nines, wander into a park, grab a Snap Dog, and she tells him to “cop a squat” under a tree. She kicks off her heels, pulls off his shoes and socks, and says, “You have to be barefoot in the grass.” That moment — playful, unfiltered, grounded — may have slipped by most people as just another quirky Julia Roberts scene. But maybe Vivian was onto something. Maybe there was more truth in that moment than we realized.

Why I Recommend Grounding to My Patients

In our office, we talk a lot about alignment—not just spinal, but whole-body balance. Grounding complements chiropractic care beautifully because both aim to restore the body’s natural state of ease. Where an adjustment helps reset your nervous system and improve function, grounding supports healing from the outside in. It’s gentle. It’s noninvasive. And it taps into something ancient—our connection to the Earth itself.

So here’s your permission slip: Put your phone down. Step outside. Kick off your shoes. Sit under a tree. Walk in the grass. Be barefoot on purpose. It’s not just good for the soul — it might be great for your health, too.