Often, it is shoes that make feet need the support of shoes in the first place. Think about an arm or leg that's casted due to a broken bone. After the cast comes off, the limb is atrophied because the muscles have been inactive for so long. We do essentially the same thing to our feet when we regularly wear shoes. Our feet rarely get any opportunity to flex or build up strength. If our feet are never strong, that can have a negative effect on our joints and muscles up through our legs and back. It creates what many people believe is a need for supportive footwear. Going barefoot or wearing primal footwear, however, allows our feet to build up and maintain flexibility and strength. Essentially, the less you wear shoes, the less you need to wear shoes.