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Robbins S, Gouw GJ, McClaran J, Waked E. Protective sensation of the plantar aspect of the foot.
Foot Ankle. 1993 Jul-Aug;14(6):347-52. Related Articles, Links

The authors conclude that (in the normal, sic) plantar skin is well protected through sensory feedback from abrasive injuries when barefoot. This information combined with previous reports suggests that risk of injury when normally shod individuals perform barefoot locomotion should be low.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8406251&dopt=Abstract

These findings would not apply to those who have an incomplete protective threshold.

Cameron

 

Robbins SE, Hanna AM
Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1987 Apr;19(2):148-56.
Running-related injury prevention through barefoot adaptations

This old paper by the same author is interesting. They use x-rays and a queer footprint measuring system to compare arch height and footprint shape/area of two conditions: 1)habitually shod, 2)after an extended period of regular barefoot activity. Post barefoot activity feet showed elevated arch height and an apparent shift to a more lateral weightbearing footprint (at least in static stance).

The authors assume that increased/altered foot muscle use leads to these adaptations. As a person who has gone barefoot regularly, but at sporadic intervals, I can add a little anecdotal evidence. Even after going for a barefoot walk of only a couple hours over uneven terrain I notice an after effect of a more vertical, less "pronated" foot posture that persists for some time. The more uneven and texturally stimulating the surface the better, it seems to me. I would compare this effect to the posture change, that soon wears off, following the wearing of a good prescription orthotic.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/...t_uids=2883551&query_hl=2&itool=pubmed_docsum