The Ancient Greek philosopher Socrates observed that, ’When our feet hurt, we hurt all over.’
According to chiropodists and podiatrists Socrates was right. Foot problems impact on our overall bodily health.
We really don’t pay enough attention to our feet, we under value them. Many of us don’t even wear the right size shoe. In fact chiropodists estimate that up to 90% of people with chronic foot problems could be in the wrong size shoe.Slip-on shoes are the main culprit. A slip-on shoe has to be slightly tight in order for it to stay on the foot so most people end up in a shoe around half a size too small for them. As the average person takes between 5000 and 18000 steps per day, any small problems become magnified very quickly.
Children’s feet are growing, so it’s doubly important to have them measured properly and frequently. But as an adult we can benefit from having our feet measured too.
Podiatrists have a wide remit when dealing with feet. They can assess foot alignment, foot movement, gait, and weight distribution. They agree that problems are best detected early because prevention is much better than cure.
Orthotics are a type of insole used for foot support. Podiatrists take measurements and make a cast of a misaligned foot and order an orthotic which, when worn, improves stability, joint alignment and foot function during walking. It can also alleviate pain. Many podiatrists believe that as many people who benefit from spectacles could potentially benefit from using orthotics, yet less than one percent of that number currently use them.
As we go through our lives we gain weight, lose weight, take up new sports, injure ourselves and change jobs. The demands on our feet change frequently. It’s a good idea therefore to have our feet assessed periodically by a qualified podiatrist and rectify any problems before they have a chance to affect our well-being.
Leonardo de Vinci said, ‘The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art.’
So treat your feet with respect!