Our feet carry us just about everywhere we go. Even if you are driving in the car, you are depending on your right foot to control the gas pedal. A small cut, a banged or ingrown toenail. a bunion, or a blister can completely change our quality of life yet we give our foot health very little attention. I know this won't change based on this one blog post but I would at least like to help you become more aware of your feet.
One important reason to pay attention to your feet is because of the kinetic chain. We have five different points along the kinetic chain: the ankle, the knee, the hips, the shoulders, and the head. Every time you take a step, the ankle joint has an affect on every single on of those joints above it. Have you noticed most people don't walk with their feet straight ahead? This generally doesn't start with birth! This can start at a young age when a child replicates how their parents walk but it is not how we were designed. A pronated foot can cause the arch to drop causing flat feet, the achilles will bow, the knee will rotate inwards, one side of the pelvis will tilt and the opposite shoulder will drop. Now this doesn't happen overnight but it is the side effect of one step after another causing micro-changes that compound over time. The health issues that can stem from walking with pronated feet include: miniscus pain, valgus and hyper-extended knee, internal rotation of the hip can cause bursitis, and last but not least lumbar disc pain. All of these aches and pains because you are not mindful enough to walk with your feet straight ahead. Now can you see why our feet are pretty important when it comes to our health?!
That is only one postural issue that happens in our feet. Now think about the ridiculous shoes we wear and how that impacts not only the foot but the kinetic chain. I think most of us instantly think of the high heel but I would like to bring your attention to the male dress shoe too - take a look, they are high heels too. Whether male or female, your calves are going to be shortened and tight from wearing dress shoes. Now, I hate to tell you but even your comfy shoes may be bad for your feet. Flip flops, clogs and crocs, like other conventional shoes, strip your foot of its inherent power, destabilize your main foot arch, and contribute to common toe deformities and problems, such as hallux valgus, bunions, tailor's bunions, hammertoes, and clawtoes. Now, I am not going to tell you that you can't wear shoes anymore because that's ridiculous and we like what we like but I am telling you that as a result of your choices, you should really take better care of your feet.
I have never been big on pedicures as I hate sitting still for other people but if that is your thing then make sure you schedule them regularly and that they don't skimp on the massage at all! Today I thought I would teach you how to do your own foot massage and that way it is free, safe, and you can do it any time and anywhere. You can also roll your feet with a tennis ball or use the Hypervolt massage gun to help too but I like to dig in with my hands and connect with my own body better. This video is about 15 minutes long but I only do one foot so you have to watch it twice to do both sides! I hope that you enjoy it and can truly feel the difference.
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