Your Feet May Not Be as Heavy as You Think
By Tom Herrin
A lot of times when people are involved in much exercise, they end up feeling like their feet are the heaviest part of their body. The picture of a laborer father coming in from work and pulling off some big work boots, then falling back into the chair trying to recover, is a familiar one to many people. Many times this exhaustion was unknowingly complicated by the kind of footwear being worn. There are also those times when a day is spent on an outing and no one can wait until they get home and take off their shoes and rest their feet. This is another case in which the footwear may be more of the problem than the task.
The Wrong Shoes For The Job
There are times when it seems that big heavy shoes are needed. The important thing is to consider the amount of support and protection that is provided. Lifting footwear that is unnecessarily heavy can tire almost anyone. Recovery time is longer according to the weight of the shoe. Once when I went backpacking in the mountains with some scouts, I wore some pretty heavy work boots, thinking they would offer good protection. By the time I limped back down the mountain three days later, between blisters and tired feet, I thought I would never be able to walk again. With the variety of footwear available today, there are usually better choices out there.
Footwear Should Provide Only The Basics
Style may mean pain and discomfort when it comes to footwear. It is a bad idea to wear shoes that feel bad from the start. They should be comfortable and as lightweight as possible. Today’s term is minimal. When people choose footwear that is minimal, they are choosing something that provides support with minimal weight and restrictions. After experiencing extremely tired feet after refereeing a couple of youth soccer games, I found some very lightweight shoes that had a great but thin cushion. They are the best investment I ever made in shoes, and they were only about $30.
Comfort Must Be A Major Factor
Those shoes I bought that I liked best feel like house shoes. They are extremely light and comfortable but have great soles. It is hard for me to believe they can provide so much support, but they do. Footwear must provide protection without overkill. When you find the right ones, your feet will feel much more refreshed -- and so will your entire body. Your feet may not really be as heavy as they feel, they may simply need shoes that are minimal.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.