Walking barefoot in Italian gardens can be a real “recipe for health.” This is confirmed by the scientific data presented today in context Blue Vibes: Connect with natureproject promoted by ASD sportification with contributions from Compagnia di San Paolo Foundation. Active between July 2025 and March 2027, Blue Vibration expanding the project’s territorial network ONE HEALTHengaging new beneficiaries – including vulnerable communities – and deepening research conducted by SUISM and fromSanta Croce and Carle Hospital. This initiative integrates hospitals, universities, local governments, associations and natural parks, bringing research and rehabilitation directly into the natural environment. The two studies presented to date represent the main evidence in Italy on barefooting: the first analyzes the impact at a functional and psychophysical level, the second focuses on clinical applications and rehabilitation in protected natural contexts.
Improvements were documented within weeks
This program is coordinated by Professor Anna Mulasso (SUISM – University of Turin), in the f’Orma sensory trail in the Gesso and Stura River Park, involved 42 people over 60 years of age in barefoot exercises for eight weeks, twice a week. The assessment – using validated tests, inertial sensors and questionnaires – measures balance, mobility, strength, cardiorespiratory fitness, multidimensional weakness, anxiety and mental well-being. The data highlights significant progress in just a few weeks, with high adherence to the program, minimal dropout, and no adverse events. “Barefoot exercise programs in environments rich in sensory stimulation produce measurable improvements in‘balance, in mobilityto and psychological well-being”, explains Professor Mulasso. “Nature strengthens‘effectiveness of training, improving emotional regulation, perception of calm and restoration of psychophysical resourcesTest – from Time is up and go for static and dynamic balance tests, up to The test runs 2 minutes – also showed improvement mental well-being (measured by the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale), increased social skillsto And decreased tone d‘negative moodconfirms international research on the relationship between barefoot and reduction of anxiety and stress.
When rehabilitation is complete‘hospital and meet park
Santa Croce e Carle Hospital presents rehabilitation interventions carried out in Gesso and Stura Parks in a context without hospitals. Coordinated by physiotherapists and rheumatologists and implemented by occupational therapists, this course engages patients with fibromyalgia and other chronic conditions. Evaluations carried out with a portable baropodometry platform and inertial sensors demonstrate this repair alreadyto after 30 minutes barefoot training, both in plantar load distribution and in gait propulsion, with effects lasting up to one week. Even short cycles of outdoor activity have the same impact improvement of posture, muscle strength, breathing and stress management. “Carrying out rehabilitation outside the hospital means speeding up the recovery process and returning a sense of autonomy and well-being to society‘the natural environment is able to strengthen”, underlined the Doctor Paulo Rachinooccupational therapist. “Nature acts as an open physiological laboratory that stimulates proprioception, balance and body awareness. Our data shows this clearly”.
National nature-based public health model
The results show that walking barefoot in nature, when done on structured trails, is a science-based practice, sustainable, and replicable on a large scale in local health systems. The benefits also extend to the social level, encouraging cohesion, inclusion and enhancing the value of parks as therapeutic spaces and responsible tourism.
“Blue Vibes shows that a new way of prevention is possible: you need some tools, targeted skills, and willto to put healthcare services onlinetoenvironment and sports“, explain Daniele GhigoPresident of ASD Sportification.
“THAT’Water and river landscapes are the common thread that unites society, territory and health. Just take off your shoes in the right place to improve well-being and health, especially if done together, online”.
