Hi
I used to think those things at the end of my legs were just there to stop me falling over or my shoes falling off.
They are far more than that!
Your feet contain 26 bones, so that
means both your feet contain a quarter of the bones in your body...definitely must be important then?!
In between each of these bones is a joint, and there are over 30 of these. Due to this the foot is incredibly adaptable and can go from rigid, as we push off for a sprint for example..to soft and absorbent to forces as we land.
Giving your feet space to move i.e. less time 'wrapped' in a shoe is important. The more we can adjust each step
to a terrain without hindrance, the more all the bones and joints can mobilise..resulting in strong feet which mean strong legs!
Taking time to care for your feet is really important as they carry your weight and an imbalance or issue in movement can have a knock on effect further up the kinetic chain.
Some tips to care for your two:
- minimalise time in shoes, walk barefoot as much as you can...mud, grass, stones take it all
on! Yes..I do walk my dog barefoot around the neighbourhood before you ask!
- rolling about each foot on a golf ball can free up tight areas, especially after a run or long walk. Yes, expect this to hurt..as long as it is a 'hurt' as in a massage, not an inflamed type pain.
- do ankle 'alphabets' every eve: move each foot to trace each letter of the alphabet lower and upper case. Really accentuate each move and take the ankle to its max range
- wriggle toes lots at any
opportunity
- foam roll and stretch calves regularly
- practice 'clawing' a rug or carpet with your toes..works surprisingly well as a stress reliever
- look into minimalist shoes (more on these later, however if looking into these for running or long walks please build up really slowly!)
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Happy Weekend ;-)
J
