Don't Do This to Your Feet
By Sara Butler
Your feet are your foundation. If your feet aren’t healthy, then the rest of the body is at a big disadvantage. This is because if the foundation is crumbling, everything else isn’t that far behind. So, treat your feet like the valuable possessions they are and never, ever do the following things to your feet – for your health!
Why Feet Are So Important
The overall health of your feet is crucial to your skeletal structure. This doesn’t mean your feet need to win any beauty contests because blisters and damaged toenails happen – those aren’t the problem. The problem is the tiny things you may be doing every single day that is setting back the health of your feet.
Not Breaking In New Sport Shoes
Whether you enjoy jogging, walking, or basketball, whenever you get a new pair of shoes for your sport, don’t go all gung-ho with them from day one. Wearing a new pair of shoes during an activity can cause blisters or shin splints because they’ve not been broken in yet. So, don’t opt for new shoes when you’ve got a big gig coming up, especially if you plan on walking, jogging, or going the distance in them.
When you find a shoe that works well for you, buy a few pairs. Then alternate them so you have several a pairs that are broken in all at once. Problem solved!
Just Wearing One Shoe Size
It’s a huge misconception that once you become an adult you will wear the same shoe size. Many people buy the same size shoe every single year, but the truth is that your feet can change for many reasons. Sometimes it’s structural changes, wear and tear, or just aging that can change your feet. In fact, as you get older your tendons and ligaments will become looser, your arch height will decrease, and shock-absorbing fat pads on the bottom of the feet will thin out. This will change the size of your shoe. So, have your feet measured professionally. Also, try out a few different sizes of shoes the next time you buy a new pair of kicks and see which feels the best.
Street Shoes and Athletic Shoes Are Not the Same
The shoes worn for athletic activities shouldn’t be as snug as the shoes you wear on the street. Your feet need more wiggle room when you’re active and wearing tight-fitting sneakers can cause pain or damage to your toenails.
When it comes to walking or running shoes, you should have at least a thumb’s width of distance between the longest toe and the front of the shoe.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.