http://www.toesalad.com/articles/plantar-fasciitis
http://www.toesalad.com/articles/plantar-fasciitis
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Being ‘Barefoot’ Beats My Painful Back Blues…
I am sitting in my office at work, eating my lunch and thinking about an enigma.
Why doesn’t my back hurt?
My back always hurts when I sit in my office. It screams at me for sleeping poorly, running too hard, mismanaging stress and sitting in this crappy chair. Yet today, it is quiet, calm—even dignified. I have a happy, straight and dignified back today!
So why?
I look down at the slight, simple and unassuming shoes I am wearing today. These Merrel Tough Glove are the closest I have come to bare feet while still being leather clad and professional. It seems that being this close to the ground (no short jokes please) and letting my feet be free is having a good effect on my back.
Go figure.
This of course makes sense. Our feet affect everything else our body does—even when we are sitting. Most shoes are way too cushioned and supportive—locking our feet in casts and weakening our base. I figured that wearing these things would strengthen my feet and improve my running. I just did not expect them to improve how my back feels.
I am pleasantly surprised.
Why doesn’t my back hurt?
My back always hurts when I sit in my office. It screams at me for sleeping poorly, running too hard, mismanaging stress and sitting in this crappy chair. Yet today, it is quiet, calm—even dignified. I have a happy, straight and dignified back today!
So why?
I look down at the slight, simple and unassuming shoes I am wearing today. These Merrel Tough Glove are the closest I have come to bare feet while still being leather clad and professional. It seems that being this close to the ground (no short jokes please) and letting my feet be free is having a good effect on my back.
Go figure.
This of course makes sense. Our feet affect everything else our body does—even when we are sitting. Most shoes are way too cushioned and supportive—locking our feet in casts and weakening our base. I figured that wearing these things would strengthen my feet and improve my running. I just did not expect them to improve how my back feels.
I am pleasantly surprised.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Good advice about Barefoot and Minimalist running...
http://www.merrell.com/US/en-US/Blog/Article.mvc.aspx/b881a5d7-5f3b-4bb1-8b17-93b00681926a
Much Ado About Minimalism
You are fit.
You are active.
You “move” your body almost everyday in some fashion.
But what about your feet? Are your feet as fit as the rest of your body?
If you’ve been walking, hiking, running, biking, climbing, jumping, and otherwise moving regularly in conventional, active-footwear, there’s a good chance that your feet may be lagging somewhat in the fitness department. Why? Because form follows function. We - and our various parts - are largely products of our environment and we tend to be very good at adapting to our circumstances. Our footwear choices provide an “environment” for our feet and that environment doesn’t always contribute to us functioning at our best.
Consider this:
If you took any body part other than your foot (your hand, lower leg, thigh, trunk, neck or upper arm) and over a period of many years - for several hours each day - you:
• laced it
• braced it
• cushioned it
• padded it
• supported it
• restricted it’s range of motion and otherwise
• “coddled” it in general…
What would be the affect on that body part?
Would it get stronger? More mobile?
Would it stay the same? Unchanged?
Would it get weaker? Less mobile?
Most people agree that, given the above scenario, there is a good chance that body part would become weaker and less mobile.
In this context, why would your feet adapt in a different manner than the rest of your body? Your feet would probably do the same thing - become weaker; less mobile; less functionally “fit”, right?
It makes you go, “Hmmm…”
So, should we pitch our shoes in the dumpster and start “living barefoot” in order to get “fitter” feet? Not necessarily. There are other, less extreme ways to develop more functional strength, mobility, balance and “feel” for the ground beneath our feet - and for many of us that process can start with a move toward “less shoe”; in other words, a transition to barefoot-wear or minimalist shoes.
There are a few things that we would do best to consider before we go full steam ahead into barefoot/minimalist footwear, however. Not the least of which is, “How functionally fit are my feet (as well as the rest of my body), right now?”
Assessing your current level of overall functional fitness - including your feet - is a great way to start your move toward “less shoe.” Here are some further assessment questions and considerations to ponder:
• How much time do you currently spend “moving barefoot” (walking around your home, up & down stairs, walking/playing/moving outside during warm weather months, etc.)?
If your answer is “very little,” then you may want to take a rather conservative approach to making the leap to barefoot-wear; spend more time “moving barefoot” around the house before going straight away into a pair of minimal shoes for long periods of time. Give your feet and body a chance to adapt a bit and acclimate to functioning with less cushion, less support, less motion control, and less bracing. Take it slow.
• How much support, cushion and motion control do your current shoes provide?
If your answer is, “a lot,” then again, you will probably want to take a slow and deliberate approach to minimalism. Follow the same recommendations as above.
• Do you have musculoskeletal issues that may be related to your posture and/or biomechanics? These issues may include (but are not limited to): plantar fasciitis
(heel pain), shin splints, Achilles tendon/calf pain, knee pain, hip pain or back pain.
If your answer is, “yes,” then consult with your health care provider about making a measured and gradual move to minimal shoes. Consider “barefoot shoes” as a tool that can potentially help you improve your overall body function - from “toe to head.”
• Are you able to perform the four basic assessment exercises included in the Merrell Barefoot movement screen with a reasonable degree of proficiency?
If your answer is “no,” then you will do best to practice these exercises - as well as the Merrell Barefoot Basic Training exercises- as part of your move to Merrell Barefoot.
The takeaway message? Follow a conscious, measured and progressive approach to “moving barefoot” and you will greatly improve your barefoot experience - maximizing the benefits and minimizing your risk.
Now… let your feet lead you.
Much Ado About Minimalism
You are fit.
You are active.
You “move” your body almost everyday in some fashion.
But what about your feet? Are your feet as fit as the rest of your body?
If you’ve been walking, hiking, running, biking, climbing, jumping, and otherwise moving regularly in conventional, active-footwear, there’s a good chance that your feet may be lagging somewhat in the fitness department. Why? Because form follows function. We - and our various parts - are largely products of our environment and we tend to be very good at adapting to our circumstances. Our footwear choices provide an “environment” for our feet and that environment doesn’t always contribute to us functioning at our best.
Consider this:
If you took any body part other than your foot (your hand, lower leg, thigh, trunk, neck or upper arm) and over a period of many years - for several hours each day - you:
• laced it
• braced it
• cushioned it
• padded it
• supported it
• restricted it’s range of motion and otherwise
• “coddled” it in general…
What would be the affect on that body part?
Would it get stronger? More mobile?
Would it stay the same? Unchanged?
Would it get weaker? Less mobile?
Most people agree that, given the above scenario, there is a good chance that body part would become weaker and less mobile.
In this context, why would your feet adapt in a different manner than the rest of your body? Your feet would probably do the same thing - become weaker; less mobile; less functionally “fit”, right?
It makes you go, “Hmmm…”
So, should we pitch our shoes in the dumpster and start “living barefoot” in order to get “fitter” feet? Not necessarily. There are other, less extreme ways to develop more functional strength, mobility, balance and “feel” for the ground beneath our feet - and for many of us that process can start with a move toward “less shoe”; in other words, a transition to barefoot-wear or minimalist shoes.
There are a few things that we would do best to consider before we go full steam ahead into barefoot/minimalist footwear, however. Not the least of which is, “How functionally fit are my feet (as well as the rest of my body), right now?”
Assessing your current level of overall functional fitness - including your feet - is a great way to start your move toward “less shoe.” Here are some further assessment questions and considerations to ponder:
• How much time do you currently spend “moving barefoot” (walking around your home, up & down stairs, walking/playing/moving outside during warm weather months, etc.)?
If your answer is “very little,” then you may want to take a rather conservative approach to making the leap to barefoot-wear; spend more time “moving barefoot” around the house before going straight away into a pair of minimal shoes for long periods of time. Give your feet and body a chance to adapt a bit and acclimate to functioning with less cushion, less support, less motion control, and less bracing. Take it slow.
• How much support, cushion and motion control do your current shoes provide?
If your answer is, “a lot,” then again, you will probably want to take a slow and deliberate approach to minimalism. Follow the same recommendations as above.
• Do you have musculoskeletal issues that may be related to your posture and/or biomechanics? These issues may include (but are not limited to): plantar fasciitis
(heel pain), shin splints, Achilles tendon/calf pain, knee pain, hip pain or back pain.
If your answer is, “yes,” then consult with your health care provider about making a measured and gradual move to minimal shoes. Consider “barefoot shoes” as a tool that can potentially help you improve your overall body function - from “toe to head.”
• Are you able to perform the four basic assessment exercises included in the Merrell Barefoot movement screen with a reasonable degree of proficiency?
If your answer is “no,” then you will do best to practice these exercises - as well as the Merrell Barefoot Basic Training exercises- as part of your move to Merrell Barefoot.
The takeaway message? Follow a conscious, measured and progressive approach to “moving barefoot” and you will greatly improve your barefoot experience - maximizing the benefits and minimizing your risk.
Now… let your feet lead you.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Running Lennon’s Race
They say John Lennon died 30 years ago.
But I saw him today at an intersection in Ballard.
He is older and rounder.
And he walks with a cane.
But it was him.
I could tell by the glasses.
I whisked by, 12 miles into a 14 mile run,
and he mumble-yelled something in my direction.
At first, I thought he was crazy, or drunk,
or maybe humming the words to 'Imagine' backwards.
Then I realized that he said,
"If only I could run like that!"
I raised my fist in the air, a sign of solidarity,
as if to say, “Brother, if only I could sing like that!”
And then my feet carried me into a place far away from there
where all the people share the world
and live in peace...
.
.
.
But I saw him today at an intersection in Ballard.
He is older and rounder.
And he walks with a cane.
But it was him.
I could tell by the glasses.
I whisked by, 12 miles into a 14 mile run,
and he mumble-yelled something in my direction.
At first, I thought he was crazy, or drunk,
or maybe humming the words to 'Imagine' backwards.
Then I realized that he said,
"If only I could run like that!"
I raised my fist in the air, a sign of solidarity,
as if to say, “Brother, if only I could sing like that!”
And then my feet carried me into a place far away from there
where all the people share the world
and live in peace...
.
.
.
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