6 Tips on Foot Health
Contributed by Xavier Lechleiter
Summer is here and that means getting out and spending time with family and friends! It can be hard to do that when your feet are hurting. At AKtive Soles we care about you and your feet and want to help you Get AKtive and Stay AKtive!
Here are 6 Tips on Foot Health:
1. Foot Flexibility: Focus on the big toe. Flexibility of the big toe is crucial for optimal walking and running biomechanics. Practice spreading your toes in all directions. Also practice keeping your big toe on the ground while raising your other toes and vice versa.
2. Foot Strength: Focus on toes, arches, and ankles, but also hip rotators and hip extensors. Foot intrinsic muscles benefit from strengthening just like your biceps.
3. Balance: Routinely incorporate ankle stability exercises into your daily program. Vast sums of dollars are spent on treatment following falls. Making a commitment to challenging your balance on a daily basis could save you hundreds of dollars.
4. Correct Shoe Size: Our foot size changes over time. Getting your foot size checked yearly will ensure your shoes fit the length and width of your foot for your activity.
5. Correct Shoe: Review your foot type and choose shoes based on your foot type. A very high arch, rigid foot will benefit from a neutral to cushion shoe while a low arch, more flexible foot will benefit from a stability to motion control shoe.
6. Inserts: Inserts can change the feel/fit of the shoe and can improve your foot biomechanics. Try an insert if recommended – there are many to choose from so find a trained specialist to help you pick the right one.
Hopefully these little tidbits can help you make the most of your summer!
See you out there,
Xavier
