Top footwear advice from Karen one of our top Chiropractors....
Your everyday shoe choices are important however in this blog we'll focus specifically on training footwear
and sports injury prevention. High impact physical exercise, such as running and skipping transfers a lot of force through your body. If your feet and the surface
you are on don’t absorb much of this shock then the energy has to go somewhere, so the
majority will pass up through your body to the hips, the knees, lower
back and so on. As we mainly walk on man-made rather than natural surfaces with little to no
absorption (such as asphalt) we can rarely depend on the ground absorbing any of that
shock.
So for specific running
trainers I recommend going to a good running shop and selecting a trainer suitable to your foot shape. Many good running shops now provide a gait
assessment in various trainers, which can help you select the correct trainer
to support your unique foot. Each trainer brand varies and you may find one
is more suitable for a wider foot and a different one for a narrower foot. It
is wise to consider support in other areas of the foot too, particularly
if you have a history of foot pain.
The feet are incredible! There are 26 bones in the foot but unfortunately this means that there's lots
of opportunity for dysfunction. The foot is the primary shock absorber as we
strike the ground and when funtioning well the arch of the foot responds to
this positively. However these bones can do one of three things either:-
- Function well
- Become restricted or
- Move too much
Your chiropractor may check your feet
to asses for any restriction and treat these accordingly to improve your
function. Poor foot mechanics can often lead to issues at the knee, hip, lower
back or elsewhere in the body, therefore it’s very important to get the foundation
right and not to neglect your all important feet. It's important also
to make sure your trainers aren’t too small as this can lead to extra stress on
toe nails and other areas of the foot, which can lead to blisters and foot
pain, preventing you training and leaving you seeking sports injury treatment.
It sounds simple but is often overlooked, that once you've selected the correct trainer, you must wear them correctly. Tying up your shoes fully and using
all the eyes, to provide an equal support can help prevent sports injuries. Don't be lazy and force your foot into any shoes without untying them.
