Foot binding was a cultural practice in China that endured for over a millennium, beginning in the 10th century and persisting until the early 20th century. It involved tightly wrapping young girls' feet to alter their shape, aiming to achieve the coveted "three-inch golden lotus" foot, which was considered a symbol of beauty and status.
The origins of foot binding are believed to trace back to the court dancers of the early Song Dynasty (960–1279), where small feet were associated with elegance and refinement.
Over time, the practice became widespread across various social classes, often seen as a prerequisite for marriage and a reflection of family honor. Despite its deep cultural roots, foot binding had severe physical consequences, including lifelong pain and limited mobility. The practice began to wane in the early 20th century due to changing societal values and reform movements, eventually leading to its prohibition.
While we do not practice foot binding in modern culture, many of our traditionally styles shoes and sneakers mimic poor growth development for feet. With this understanding of past cultural practices and its affect on proper foot development, we can lean on observations found in scholarly journals, medical analysis, and studies to see how this translates to foot development for our every-day foot wear.
Keeping this knowledge in mind, it's important to draw parallels to our current modern-day styles and the impact they have on developing foot muscles, toe spread, and gait.
Modern children's footwear can sometimes hinder natural foot development, echoing the restrictive effects of historical practices like foot binding. Here's a quick look at contemporary shoe styles that can impede proper growth in children:
Footwear with stiff soles and limited flexibility can restrict natural foot movement, potentially affecting muscle development and arch formation.
Shoes that are too tight or too loose can cause discomfort and may lead to deformities or gait abnormalities over time.
Footwear with raised heels can alter posture and place undue stress on developing muscles and tendons, potentially leading to long-term issues.
A scholarly article titled "Understanding the Role of Children's Footwear on Children's Feet and Gait Development: A Systematic Scoping Review" emphasizes the importance of appropriate footwear in promoting healthy foot and gait development in children.
To support proper foot growth, it's advisable to choose shoes that are flexible, well-fitting, and flat, allowing children's feet to develop naturally without unnecessary constraints.
An additional uncomfortable consequence of wearing poorly fitting shoes is the development of pincer toenails, or "ingrown" nails. By wearing shoes that are too tight around the toes, ingrown toenails may form and cause pain, discomfort, and when left untreated can lead to open wounds and infection.
For pincer nails caused by tight footwear, this can be avoided. This is why we specially design our soft soles with wide toe boxes, which allow for proper toe splay and prevents pincer nails caused by tight shoes.
Resources on Foot Binding & Complications to Foot Development
I think this practice should be performed on men