Should I Jump Rope Barefoot?

Yes, don’t pass on jumping rope barefoot just yet. The benefits far outweigh the negatives.
Many jump rope instructors and experts advise on skip rope barefoot. However, if you have ever tried it, occasionally getting sore feet and your toes whipped can be so annoying!

Benefits of Skipping Rope Barefoot

We wear shoes almost all the time – whenever we step go outside or simply chilling in the house! Though shoes protect our feet, research shows that they make them lazy and weaker. For this reason, health practitioners advocate for walking or even exercising barefoot.

The most difficult part about jumping rope barefoot is finding the right surface. The ideal surface has enough give to protect your feet, and enough bounciness to make the rope move smoothly. A good surface will also be flat, so that you can keep your feet beneath the rope at all times. If you jump rope barefoot on a rough surface with a rope that is too long, you will develop small cuts and scrapes on your feet, as well as poor footwork from having to jump over the rope.

Here’s why jumping rope barefoot can be beneficial.

1. Strengthens Your Feet’s Muscles

Your feet are made up of 20 different muscles and a third of your body’s joints. With shoes on these muscles are constricted and rearranged according to the size and shape of the shoes. The reverse applies when barefoot, as this binding is liberated and your feet get to ‘breathe’. Skipping rope while at it is even better as it strengthens every one of your feet muscles. It also helps better the range of motion and alignment.

2. Boosts your Flexibility

When jumping rope, you tend to rest on the balls of your feet. This keeps your energy chambered and helps you maneuver about with ease. And if you can keep at it for longer periods, activities such as dancing, moving up and down a stair, walking on uneven ground and the like will be effortless!

3. Improves Your Feet’s Health

Body exercise usually causes your feet to sweat, have blisters or mallet toes, especially if you do not have the right shoe for the kind of exercises you indulge in. Instead of shopping for shoes, suitable for every exercise (which is hella expensive), you can simply walk or exercise barefoot. It allows, your feet to sweat facilely, stretch, and breathe. The result? Healthy and smiley feet!

3. Enables Better Support and Balance

As you know, your feet support your whole body. This can partly be accredited to the foot arches, namely, medial, lateral, and anterior transverse. They help bear the weight of your body and absorb any shock. Research shows that wearing shoes takes up most of their role which can make them weaker; thus, walking around or jumping rope barefoot helps make them stronger.

4. It is extra Fun!

There is something about your feet touching the ground that makes it so much fulfilling and fun. It also increases the awareness of your body in space. When jumping rope, landing on a spot every time will transfer the weight to your whole body and utilize all your leg muscles, making you exuberant!

Nevertheless, despite these benefits, we can’t just shove aside its negative impacts. To avoid any possible injuries and seamlessly enjoy jumping rope barefoot, ensure to:

Use the right size and type of jump rope.

Start with shorter sets and, once you get used to it, work up to longer sets.

Jump rope on comfortable ground. It should neither be too hard, like concrete or asphalt nor too soft like the soggy ground or that with loose dirt. Find a neutral ground, or use a jump rope mat.

Seek a health expert’s advice if you suffer from underlying health conditions like diabetes.

Examine your feet after exercise for any injuries and treat them accordingly. Also, massaging them accrues the benefits of the exercise and helps avoid aches and sores.

That’s it! As long as you stick to the above guidelines, jumping rope barefoot should be engaging, fun, and beneficial to the well-being of your feet.