In my Wednesday blog, Feet First I wrote about the importance of our feet to the rest of our body-- as the foundation of our moving selves our feet determine the health and proper functioning of our knees, hips, spine and even head. And as we've discovered, the wellbeing of the body impacts our mental health inextricably. Some of you may never have had foot problems, but most of us have suffered something anatomical-- knees, lower back, neck issues. Because the alignment of the feet trigger compensation going upward, chances are, these body issues probably have something to do with your feet.
So here's what I've discovered from my research. I'm sure there are plenty of other options out there so send them along if you'd like to share (www.seasonedbodymind.com/contact)!
1. LEARN ABOUT YOUR FEET- No two people's feet are the same, but also many times one person's two feet are not the same. So going to a good running shoe store to have a Gait Analysis is highly recommended. Gait analysis is a method for identifying biomechanical abnormalities in the gait cycle - it’s a way of assessing the way in which you walk and run. This is a free service and even if you're not a runner, can guide you to the proper fitting shoe for whatever your activity.
2. SHOE INSOLES- All athletic shoes come with a generic insole (removable), some better than others. If your feet and gait are perfect, maybe you can get away with them. But if not, a good running store (Runners Need, Jack Rabbit, etc.) can guide you as to the best one for you once your feet are analyzed. If you're like me and each foot is different, you might need to spring for the custom insoles which, for the biomechanical health of your entire body, are really worth the investment. My go-to person for all things bodymind is Dr. Tom Morison in Providence, RI who practices Chiropractic BioPhysics which combines biology, physiology, physics, geometry, and anatomy to assess and return the body to correct natural functioning. He highly recommends Sole Supports as a superior option for custom insoles. If you check out their website, you can find trained providers in your area.
3. EVERYDAY SHOES- Rule of thumb with shoes of any kind is to have enough room, especially in the width of the toe box and in the overall length of the shoe so the feet can express their full range of motion both on impact and recoil. Although I have not tried these shoes myself, they come highly recommended again by Dr. Tom Morison who has done thorough research on the subject. As with anything however, every body is different and trying them on for proper fit is imperative. Two reputable shoe companies to explore are Aurora Shoes and SAS Shoes.
4. FITNESS SHOES-- This can be incredibly confusing given the myriad options out there. One thing I know for sure though, is that you shouldn't use a fashion sneaker for your fitness/athletic activities. They also recommend that you wear these shoes for specific activities rather than for all activities. Ideally you should have another pair for hiking, biking, etc. Of course, if this isn't financially feasible, just make sure to change your shoes at least once a year. From my research and experience the two options that have been repeatedly recommended to me are Altra (I wear the Paradigm and love it!) and Hoka. Check out their websites for details and locations.
5. FOOT EXERCISES- There are literally hundreds of muscles in the feet. Many of them are tiny, but together they provide the strength necessary to propel us. And in spite of good footwear, we need to take responsibility for the muscular balance in our feet just like in the rest of the body. The simple exercise that Dr. Tom recommends and that you can do sitting at your desk or watching TV (you can also do it standing) is to use a piece of lightweight fabric (scarf or even a pillow case) place the long way with toes of one foot at one end. Begin to draw the fabric towards you with your toes (scrunching) until you reach the end. Repeat with the other foot and as often as possible. For a more comprehensive regimen of both intrinsic and extrinsic foot exercises to address your specific foot issues, a great book I've used is Anatomy of Movement Exercises by Blandine Calais-Germain.
So as you Mind Your Body in all aspects of your life, put your best foot forward in attending to the health of your feet for the important role they play in all of the activities of your life!
#feetfirst #putyourbestfootforward #wellness #footwellness #foothealth #wellnessblogger #healthandwellness #mindyourbody #listentoyourbody #newblogger #newblog #newblogpost #babyboomerblog #healthbloggers #newontheblog #upontheblog #blogpostalert #bodymind #seasonedbodymind
Comments