If there’s one item of clothing that we tend to be relieved to remove at the end of the day, it’s our shoes.

That feeling highlights how uncomfortable modern shoes can be – and why, according to some, we should be switching to “ barefoot shoes ” – a new style of minimalist footwear.

Unlike regular shoes, barefoot shoes have minimal cushioning for the soles and heels and have room for toes to completely spread out. New Feature

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The claim is that regular shoes constrain feet so much they stop the muscles and tendons from functioning naturally, leading to knock-on pains and joint problems anywhere from our backs down to our toes.

But some experts warn that, in fact, barefoot shoes can themselves cause foot problems. So what are the

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