My Feet are killing me! This is one of the most common statements you hear from working people. The need to take care of your feet, especially if you stand most of your working day, can be very important. The American Podiatric Medical Association says that the average person takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day and will walk four (4) times around the earth in their lifetime. This will exert tons of pressure on their feet daily.
Some foot facts:
25 % of the bones in the body are in your feet
Your feet are a complex system of 52 bones, 66 joints, 214 ligaments, 38 muscles and tendons.
75% of North Americans will experience foot health problems of varying degrees at some point in their life.
When everything is functioning properly in the foot, it adapts to the different types of surfaces that you are walking or running on. At the same time, the foot must be capable of changing into a rigid structure to stabilize and move the body forward.
Your feet should not hurt! Pain is the body's way of warning you something is wrong . If you ignore your pain, the condition causing it could become worse. Did you know that 90% of foot problems are caused or aggravated by improperly fitted shoes? Perfect feet are very rare. It is estimated that as many as 30% of the population suffer with some sort of foot problem or condition. Your feet are the foundation and support for the rest of your body.
If you are experiencing foot, ankle, knee, lower back or shoulder pain, it very well may stem from a problem with your feet. When active in sports, your feet can experience up to 300 - 400% more pressure than when simply walking or normal activities. Women have four times as many foot problems as men because they have a long history of wearing high heels and/or pointy toe shoes. Improper-fitting shoes and general foot neglect are responsible for the majority of foot problems.
If you are experiencing joint pain in your ankles, knees or hips this may be a direct result of foot misalignment. Imbalances while walking and running can alter the bony structure of your feet and lower legs.
For information on how to help correct foot misalignments, see Gail's article Why Orthotics For Foot Care?.
