They spend much of the year hidden away. So it's hardly surprising that most of us are unaware of how our feet can provide important clues to the state of our health.
Barefoot running, also known as minimalism or natural running, is simply running without shoes or running in thin-soled shoes. Running barefoot is considered to be the natural way of running and some entire cultures still foster this idea such as the Tarahumara in Mexico.
While ill-fitting shoes may contribute to a hammertoe, "shoes don't [actually] cause it," says Mauser. "Hammertoes occur by the pull and stretch of the tendon. One tendon gets a more mechanical advantage over the other and allows the deformity to occur."