There are 26 bones in each human foot, and those 52 foot bones comprise one-quarter of the 206 bones in the body. Besides bones, feet have copious sensors that contribute to our proprioception and measure force and contact pressure on our soles. Lots of bones and lots of sensors make our feet high-res environmental interfaces.

So why do we cover these highly-tuned systems with socks and heavy or constricting shoes?

Doctors figured out that children develop better balance, strength, and coordination if they learn to walk without shoes, or at least with minimum foot coverings such as booties, several decades ago; my sons are in their twenties, and that was established science when they were born.

Somehow though, we haven’t translated that to grownups, at least not in developed countries. Tribal peoples continue to dominate western racing, especially ultramarathons, running barefoot or with minimal protective covering, and college distance running coaches have known since the 70s that barefoot practice reduces injuries, yet it’s still controversial.

I think that’s because there is a lot of money being made by athletic shoe shills.

I switched to minimalist shoes a few years ago, and immediately was able to run much farther with fewer injuries. By the time we moved to California, I was very confident about my foot health. I picked up Morris dancing and started doing a lot more Scottish Country dancing. Last year I got a mild strain in my left ankle, which I’ve been nursing along. Last week I fractured one of those little bones in my left foot.

Feet and leg biomechanics are not optimized for leaping from toe to toe.

This one small bone will probably heal itself, eventually. But for the nonce, I am forced to lollygag my way through the day, favoring a foot. I ascend stairs on one knee, and descend on my bum, at least at home where all is freshly vacuumed. I have made a permanent dent in the sofa after only two days. I keep a box filled with supplies, which my patient husband transports between floors. My Fitbit step count has plummeted.

I’m not thinking beyond the immediacy yet, the immediacy of how this will affect exercise, folk dancing, hiking, job-hunting, beach-walking, life-in-progress. I am a movement-oriented person treating myself to a bit of denial for the first few days.