Sherri Dmyterko: Stilettos, platforms, flats, running shoes, everyone has their favorite footwear to walk those estimated 8,000 steps a day. But in a recent study, 53% of Canadian say they experienced tired, sore feet on a pretty regular basis.
Ottawa based Strength and Conditioning Specialist Dr. Sam Dubé says those sore feet, legs, and back muscles can often be traced back to your footwear.
Dr. Sam Dubé: More and more research is showing us that going barefoot is actually best. In societies where footwear is not so common, they report far less foot problems than in shoe wearing societies. Even so-called sensible shoes can cause problems, and that's because cushioning an artificial support actually weaken the muscles by interfering with their proper function.
Sherri Dmyterko: So what's the solution? Dr. Larry Bell, who works with a number of Olympic athletes says exercising your feet daily is key, and doing so barefoot may be better.
Dr. Larry Bell: Even those of us that exercise regularly tend to neglect our feet. To achieve the strengthening benefit of walking barefoot, there are a few simple exercises that you can do.
Curl toe stretches can be done at your desk. Extend your leg outward, stretch and point your foot downwards, curl your toes, and hold it for 30 seconds.
Another good foot exercise is to place the ball of the foot and the toes against a wall. Keep the knee bent and gently push towards the wall with your knee, and hold it for 30 seconds. You should wear soft, nonrestrictive shoes that allow your toes to wiggle freely, and walk barefoot when you can.
Sherri Dmyterko: A Canadian based company has come up with an innovative solution to give you the strengthening benefits of going barefoot without exposing your feet to the elements.
Dr. Larry Bell: Source like Barefoot Science activate the arch, and they mimic the physics of walking barefoot. By retraining the arches, they restore proper foot motion. People with chronic foot pain and low back pain find great benefit in using these.
Sherri Dmyterko: For more information about foot health check out www.barefootscience.com.
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