When we’re young our feet are just someplace to show off our new sneakers or the cute shoes that match our new outfit. If we’re not that young our feet have probably told us that it’s time to start taking better care of our bodies. A poorly maintained foot puts stress on the ankles, knees and hips. That stress can produce complications and pain throughout the body.
The Geometry of the Foot
The foot is a marvel of design that uses 26 bones and 33 joints to not only support the body while standing but also provide balance, shock absorption and flexibility. Many problems in the foot occur when the biomechanics is out of whack so the forces coming down the leg don’t bear down on the center of the heel bone; they are off the one side. This causes more than just foot pain, it can cause a cascade of problems throughout the skeleton and its joints.
The bones of the foot are all held together by ligaments that can be permanently stretched out of shape by shoes that are not “sensible.” The nerves and blood vessels that supply the foot and toes pass through the 33 joints. As the foot changes shape due to poor shoe choices, the nerves and vessels can be pinched, changing their function.
Common Errors in Foot Care
- Wearing High Heels. How long can you walk on your tiptoes in your bare feet? That’s how long you should wear high heels in one day.
- Wearing thong-style Flip-Flops. These shoes require that the toes must be scrunched to hold the shoe on the foot producing foot pain if worn too much. Wear them around the pool or on the beach but they are not for everyday wear.
- Wearing poor-fitting shoes or boots. Shoes that are too tight can change the shape of the foot, causing joint problems, pain and blood circulation problems. When young your body is flexible and you may not feel the pain, but this is also the time when you might be disfiguring your feet because of that very flexibility.
Orthotics
Orthotics are pads that go inside the shoe to provide extra support. Some are sold over-the-counter in every drug store. There are varieties that are firm and provide extra arch support, and gel-types that provide extra cushioning for people who are on their feet all day long.
If you have chronic problems with your feet, a podiatrist can prescribe custom orthotics that will compensate for the irregularities.
