This is what I always tell my clients. We’re always on our feet. Stepping on different platforms, angles, constantly changing where the pressure goes on our feet. So it makes sense to wear proper shoe wear, right? A lot of times people wear shoes for years and that’s just not good, especially if you’re exercising. The cushioning worn off, soles long gone, and flat out nasty and BEAT UP. If you have holes in your shoes, get some new ones. Your feet will appreciate it. Why do I stress this? Because foot problems are one of the, if not the most, common injuries people sustain. Sprained ankle, Achilles tendonitis, heel spur, plantar fasciitis, blisters, bunion, hammer toe, broken feet/toe, the list goes on.
I learned early on to invest in good workout shoes. Basketball being my primary sport during my teenage years, if my shoes were old, the traction on them doesn’t allow for maximal performance. I would easily slide and roll my ankle; learned that the hard way. You can really feel the difference when you have good shoes. I have grown accustomed to buying a lot of shoes and rotating them so each shoe doesn’t get worn out. Me being a personal trainer, I am constantly on my feet. On average, my step count is above 20,000 steps and that’s just from working. So I need to take care of my feet. Take a look at your shoes and think how long you have had them for. If you answered years and have a lot of mileage on them, I suggest you to retire them and buy some new ones.
One of the easiest way you can tell if you need new shoes is to look at the bottom. If the patterns have worn off and feels like one flat surface, then this is a sign that the traction has disappeared. Shoes are meant to grip to avoid slippage, so if there’s none, the chances of slipping is higher. Another way to find out is to take out the sole in each shoe and see how much cushioning is left. Most people wouldn’t even think to take out the sole and take a look, but that’s why you’re reading this I guess, hah. You can even swap out the sole with a more padded one and see if your feet likes it. Dr. Scholl’s, Superfeet to name a few if you want to find a fast replacement that’s affordable. Be cautious with this approach because everybody’s foot is different. So what works for one person may not necessarily work for others; one size does NOT fit all in this case. Some have pronating feet, flat feet, pigeon toes, duck feet, high arches, hammer toes, etc. My suggestion is to step on one of those sensors that measures where you apply pressure on your feet and get the recommended sole according to how you stand. Wear different types of shoes and see which one fits, and most importantly, feels the best. So take my advice and wear good shoes because at the end of the day, we are on our feet. EVERY SINGLE DAY…..unless you can fly. If you know how, let me know…………………….. Hope you liked this week’s blog, stay tuned for more next week………………………Kei