Stretching For Healthy Feet
One of the most overlooked benefits of stretching is foot health. We demand a lot from our feet and use them extensively every single day. According to the College of Podiatry, a person will walk an estimated 150,000 miles in their lifetime,” roughly the equivalent of walking around the world six times! All that stress of carrying you around takes its toll and puts your feet at special risk for injuries or inflammation. Thus, the importance of stretching for healthy feet.
Some common foot problems are and many others. Improper footwear is also a big culprit in foot problems and pain. Most foot exercises are simple and easy to do and increase the range of motion in the feet. They say that “age makes us all equal” and that is nowhere truer than foot health. The feet are a marvel and contain 26 bones, 42 muscles, 33 joints and 50 ligaments and when healthy, work like a well-oiled machine to get you where you are going.
The importance of stretching as we age
Exercise philosophy has come a long way, and we now understand that stretching is an important part of any exercise or rehabilitation program. The “warm up” as stretching is known, keeps the muscles flexible, healthy, and strong and we need that to maintain a range of motion in our joints. If we don’t stretch our muscles shorten and become tight and when that happens, one wrong move can spell trouble. As we age, this flexibility can be the difference between an active or inactive daily lifestyle. Flexible muscles help you bend down to pick up that package, play with your grandchildren, or catch your dog as it runs away from you. Stretching improves circulation and increases blood flow to your muscles. It also improves posture by keeping your muscles loose, and good posture is important in keeping aches and pain away and preventing falls as you get older.
Some tips to successful stretching for healthy feet include:
- Focusing on major muscles groups such as the feet, calves, hips, back, shoulders and neck
- Perform exercises such as:
- Calf and heel stretches
- Towel stretch
- Toe curls
- A yoga pose called Virasana or the “hero’s pose”
- You can contact our office for additional guidance and stretching exercises
- Don’t bounce. Bouncing can tear muscles and cause tight muscles
- If it hurts, stop. Pain means you are pushing too far
- Hold stretches for 30 seconds
- Relax and breathe deeply as you stretch, take your time
Dr. Zinoviy Rabinovich D.P.M., Board Certified Physician and Surgeon of Foot and Ankle – a doctor who is on time, who looks at and listens to you and not the computer, who provides immediate relief and follows through to complete satisfaction. Experience, expertise, convenience of scheduling, evening hours, and a personal innovative approach for all your and your children’s foot care needs. Northbrook 847-297-9660, Crest Hill 815-838-9505 or book online at www.absolutefootandankleclinic.com.
Доктор Зиновий Рабинович – сертифицированный врач и хирург стопы и голеностопного сустава. Опыт, экспертиза, удобство записи, и индивидуальный, заботливый, инновационный подход для вас и ваших детей. Northbrook 847-297-9660, Crest Hill 815-838-9505 или записывайтесь онлайн на www.absolutefootandankleclinic.com.
