Shoe Test to Analyze Shoes
Pronated – Normal – Supinated
I recently went to see a podiatrist after I noticed one foot looked different than the other near the big toe joint. While I wasn’t experiencing pain, turns out I have arthritis in that joint probably because of kickboxing for years and jumping on hard surfaces. Plus I discovered I pronate (collapse my arches) slightly. The doctor explained that most people do, herself included.
Pronation makes the ankle roll, forcing the foot to compensate by moving the first metatarsal medially away from the rest. A key component in foot health is choosing a good shoe with a supportive sole. So the doctor showed my a simple test to analyze your shoe’s sole:
1) grasp the shoe with one hand under the toe and with the other hand under the heel
2) Bend the sole in a U-shape
3) If the sole bends anywhere other than the ball of the foot only, it’s no good
Invest in Your Health
Shoe Test
That reminds me of how amazed I was in first learning my husband’s employer allots $300 annually for work boots to each employee in the field division. But I get it now! Giving the guys good boots now saves the company a ton in medical expenses on down the road. Problems like arthritis, plantar fasciitis, achilles tendonitis, knee pain, hip pain, and back pain can result otherwise. Not to mention lost work time.
So I adopted the same philosophy in my line of work. I am on my feet almost the entire work day when training clients. Keeping my feet in good shape directly affects my ability to do my job, therefore, I don’t skimp on work shoes. My work shoes consist of 2 pairs of name brand shoes, usually Saucony or Nike, with well constructed soles that I alternate daily.
Orthotic
Most people who know me, know I am always preaching the importance of being proactive about your health. That means NOT waiting until until your body needs a major overall, especially if you are an athlete and regularly put your body under stress. Instead, dedicate time to maintenance to prevent future problems before they start. My insurance ended up covering the out-of-the-box orthotics and I was in and out in 20 minutes. Do yourself a favor and perform the sole test on your shoes before problems arise. Start living your life to the optimum today!
*The mentioning of this product in this article is for the sole purpose of helping the reader by educating him/ her in how I use the product. I personally use this product but do not receive any compensation for my endorsement.
Melissa
OptimumCondition.com
(619) 252-4993
Empowering people through fitness, education, and coaching
