Your Feet Can Reduce Pain & Improve Health

Feet are the foundation for your body

Many of us exercise different parts of our body but neglect our feet.  Your feet have 26 bones, 30 joints, and over 100 muscles.  The muscles in your feet only get stronger when the bones in the feet move.

The bones move as the feet flex during walking on uneven surfaces, which doesn’t happen very often, given the shoes that we wear.

Healthy feet are needed to support your body better

They are also the basis for optimal alignment for the entire body.  The principles of physics apply to the bones in your body.  When the bones are aligned, the muscles are more optimally balanced, reducing the possibility of pain and stiffness.

Stiff muscles can reduce mobility in the ankle and foot.  Sometimes foot pain is caused by tight calf muscles.  Stretching your calves can be done almost anywhere.  Another possible cause of foot discomfort is ankle stiffness.  Flexible ankles allow the feet to move and flex when coping with uneven terrain by keeping the body aligned.

Take note of your weight distribution when standing

When standing, 60% of your weight should be in the heels, and 40% in the front of the foot. Your weight needs to be distributed evenly between the inner and the outer edge of the foot.  Become conscious of your weight distribution when standing, then adjust your stance as needed.

Exercising the muscles in your feet will help keep the feet healthy and flexible

One technique I recommend is rolling a small ball under your foot.  This can be done while sitting or standing (while holding onto a chair-back for safety).  You will decide how much pressure you want to put on the ball to stimulate your foot’s bottom surface.

Optimal alignment, less stiffness, and reduced pain give you the freedom to move with more ease and become more active.

Be kind to your feet. Having healthy feet encourages you to keep on mov’in.

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