Who let the dogs out?

Your tootsies are good to you. Think about it, they don’t talk back, are reliable, trustworthy and provide you a nice platform for you to voice your opinions. Sometimes, when you reciprocate the love, they even present themselves worthy of display. But, given years of abuse and neglect, they can turn on you and be the source of problems higher up the line.

Did you know?

- On average, in our lifetime we walk a distance totaling 3 times the earth’s circumference.

- Over the course of a 1 mile run, we place several tons of weight on our feet!

- The feet contain ¼ of all the bones in our body totaling to 33 joints and over 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments.

Find out if you are at risk for debilitating foot pain and take action before you let them down.

Overweight? Our feet carry a load which is 120% of our body weight. Shedding those extra pounds can help to lighten the load on your feet, thus alleviating pressure on muscles and ligaments which support your stance. Obese individuals often suffer from hammertoes, bunions and plantar fasciitis.

Flat Footed? People with flat feet (often times is a case of your gene pool) lack the structural support of the arch which can lead to tendinitis and arthritis. Seek out shoe inserts to help support your arch and provide additional support. Walking on bare feet should be avoided, as it enhances the fallen arch.

High Arched? All good things in moderation is what my mom always told me. Having too high of an arch can be problematic; the rigidity of having a high arch causes a lack of shock absorption which can affect your ankles, knees and hips. If you are high arched, look for good quality, roomie shoes which will provide good shock absorption. Avoid heels! To further loosen your feet up and provide some daily relief, give yourself a foot massage, being sure to give special attention to the bottoms. Alternatively, roll a golf ball or spiky ball under your feet.

Have a love affair with high heels? Well STOP! Heels cause a whole myriad of foot problems, muscle imbalance problems, postural problems, etc. etc. etc! Plus, my gosh is it an expensive hobby! If you MUST wear heels to work (and by must, I mean just refuse to give it up no matter what anyone says) then wear tennies to walk to and from the car, bus or subway, slip on your heels at your desk and no one is the wiser. No way you’re going to risk looking silly in trainers with your fab new suit? Fine, then try to keep the heels under 2.5 inches high.

Are you somewhere in between these categories, or just plain suffering from foot pain and you have no idea why? Here are some general guidelines to follow:

- Diabetics need to be particularly Type A about foot care, as they are prone to loss of circulation and feeling. Feet checks daily are a must!

- Let your boys’ air out. Moist environments in your shoes and socks can foster fungal growth under your nails!

- Plantar fasciitis is a common ailment suffered by individuals with flat feet, pregnant, on their feet all day long or if you are poorly supported by your footwear. It is an extremely painful condition caused by inflammation of the tissue on the bottom of the feet. Solution? Be diligent with stretching your calf muscles (2-3x daily) and strengthen the muscles in your feet with intrinsic exercises.

- Exercise keeps your feet healthy and happy, and then they can keep giving back to you!

I’m curious to know how many of you out there suffer from foot problems but continue to wear heels. What is the source of your foot pain?