The desire to improve yourself as part of a New Year’s resolution is a lot older than you might think.
In fact, the Babylonians were doing it as many as 4,000 years ago! Then came the Roman Empire, which both continued the tradition and invented the month of January, thereby providing a template for people to resolve to improve themselves annually.
Physical fitness often comes up as something people want to improve, but doing so will add more work for your feet. That means now is a great time to add improving foot care to your list of things to do this new year.
Let’s review the connection between foot health and overall health, why foot pain happens, and what you can do about it.
Dr. Andrew Harrison and our dedicated medical staff continue to help residents of the Lower Pacific Heights area of San Francisco and San Jose, California, with many foot-related issues. They can help you with this important resolution this year, too!
The study of how the human body moves is essential for understanding athletes, but it can also be applied to everyone.
Part of a branch of science called kinesiology, this field provides vital information on how the musculoskeletal system works with other parts of the body as they move.
No part of the body works in isolation, and the connection to foot health and body health goes both ways.
The positions you take when walking, standing, sitting, and performing daily activities affect how your whole body moves.
Pain in the feet can be due to:
The risk of foot pain can also be worsened by weight gain, aging, previous injuries, overuse, and ill-fitting shoes.
Try these suggestions for healthier feet in the new year:
Simply taking the load off your feet makes a huge difference when you’ve been standing all day or participating in exercise or sports.
Stretches for the heel and foot muscles can relieve pain, reduce stiffness, and help avoid future issues with proper care.
Talk to us about custom orthotics if you are struggling with foot issues or want to improve your posture.
The combination of rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE method) can help when feet are hurting.
This helps restore mobility, range of motion, and balance, depending on your problems, and can help you find ways to prevent foot pain.
Foot care is always essential, so make an effort to keep your feet healthy this year by making an appointment with Dr. Harrison and his team for any symptoms or concerns.
