Just before barefoot running, I was someone who wore shoes the majority of my life, and for the past 18 years have been wearing tightly laced running shoes during my intensive running career. This resulted in my foot had to go though many (sometimes painful) structural changes when i began practicing barefoot running.
I will detail these changes below; however I will first note that my wife weren't required to undergo a number of these structural changes, because she'd spent most of her childhood and much of her life going barefoot or perhaps in minimal footwear, and so her feet were better adapted to barefoot running to begin with. Should you go barefoot often, you might not suffer from the structural changes listed below while you start barefoot running.
1. Barefoot running structural change #1: Spreading of the toes.
My toes were very close together when I began barefoot running, and my outer toes even curled underneath the ones next to them a bit. As I began barefoot running my toes all started to disseminate, until today, they're quite separate. I have tried personally "toe spreaders" while not out barefoot running at times, to help this beneficial spreading process.
2. Barefoot running structural change #2: Bones becoming unfused in forefoot.
If you have been wearing shoes for a long time, you might find when i did that your metatarsals (small bones inside your forefoot) have actually become bonded or fused together, with cartilage. One way to know if this has happened is to attempt to wiggle or move your toes independently; if you cannot, your cartilage might have bonded your bones in your forefoot and you may maintain for a painful "loosening" while you begin barefoot running.
My experience as I began barefoot running was that the insides of my feet were in quite a bit of pain as the cartilage broke apart internally. The easiest method to deal with this is to begin barefoot running slowly, in order that it doesn't happen too quickly; also to use ice water foot baths to soak the feet in after running. You may also use Traumeel, a gel with arnica inside it, to rub on your feet. Nevertheless, you will also just have to deal with some pain because this happens, I know of not a way to completely avoid it. But it will go away while you keep barefoot running and your foot heals.
3. Barefoot running structural change #3: Loosening and adaptability of the toes.
As the toes spread apart, and the bones inside your forefoot become unfused, you will notice that your toes are not only seen further apart and looser, but that you could start to move them independently of 1 another, quite simply barefoot running will help you to wiggle your toes.
4. Barefoot running structural change #4: A wider, more muscular foot.
My foot hasn't only become a little wider in front, but also a lot more muscular. Also, the tendons in my feet used to stand up quite a bit, and now they don't, causing my foot to look smoother and with no sharp ridges that accustomed to show from my tendons being strained.
5. Barefoot Running structural change #5: Inability to Be Comfortable Wearing (Any) Shoes.
This is not a lot a structural change because of the structural changes you may experience barefoot running: you might find yourself unable (or unwilling) to wear normal shoes anymore. I have found this in my experience the case, and today I only go barefoot or wear Vibram Five Fingers (minimalist shoes with separate compartment for the toes).
The final time Cleaning it once a to wear shoes was really after i went to meet President Clinton at a charity dinner (I did not think they'd allow my Vibrams) and chose the preferred "dress" shoes I possibly could, some Doc Martens. My feet and back were in pain the whole night. So, you may perfectly wish to invest in a set of Vibram Five Fingers if you are barefoot managing a lot, and obtain used to the idea that shoes may be a part of your past!