Do Your Feet Have to Hurt?

The answer is, no. However, feet are complex structures made up of 28 bones, 33 joints, a host of tendons, ligaments, muscles, nerves and blood vessels all wrapped in skin. Any of these can cause pain. Oh yeah, and you probably have two of them, so that doubles the risk! When you think about what you ask of your feet it is amazing that they don't hurt much more than they do. Most of us are carrying around extra pounds. Many of us cram our feet into shoes that we don't belong in. Combine that with floor surfaces like tile and concrete that we have no business walking or standing on for hours and you get a glimpse at the stresses that you take for granted every single day. The average American takes 6 thousand steps per day. Our diets require that we take many more steps than that if we don't want to gain weight. So how do we do it? How do we increase our activity so we can stay at a healthy weight, while protecting our feet in the process? The human body is basically a biological machine. How do you get the most mileage out of that other familiar machine, your car? Preventative maintenance, proper tires (shoes) and a good alignment are the keys to getting the most out of both of these machines. Buy a properly fit pair of shoes for your foot type. Invest in your health and buy a pair of orthotics if you need them for proper alignment. Go to see a podiatrist to help you with this. Just because some yahoo in a shoe store is wearing a white coat doesn't mean he knows anything about your feet. Remember, these people are in sales. They have not taken any kind of oath to protect your health. They are in business to make money, not heal people. Your feet don't have to hurt. You can exercise, lose weight and live the active, pain free lifestyle you want, but you can't do it for free. It is going to take an investment of time and money. Remember, if you need something, you pay for it whether you buy it or not. You pay for it in pain, time away from work or play, or just by worrying. Break the cycle. Get moving and stay fit starting today. Committed to your health, Dr. Craig Conti