Ringing in the New Year: Resolve to Be Kind to Your Feet
Having optimally aligned feet may not be the first item on your New Year’s resolution list, however, it is easy to incorporate a natural foot care routine around the other intentions that you’ve committed to this January. Below you’ll find a few of the most common resolutions that people make, with examples of how you can add your Correct Toes into the mix.
“I resolve to get in shape- it’s a new year, time to get after it in the gym!”
Spreading your toes creates a strong and balanced foundation that supports your body in movement. The wider your toes can spread, the sturdier your base can be. About twenty-five percent of the bones in your body are located in your feet. Any misalignment of the bones in the toes has the potential to negatively impact other parts of the body like the knees, hips, and lower back. So… how can you set yourself up for stability and success?
1.) Incorporate Correct Toes into your workout.
They place the toes into optimal alignment while slowly and progressively changing the foot’s architecture. The muscles of the foot adapt and strengthen accordingly. Toe alignment and foot strength has numerous positive effects on biomechanics, gait and injury prevention.
Being stable and having correct posture can help maximize any workout. It decreases the potential for muscle imbalances and allows the proper muscles to engage with specific exercises. With the presence of Correct Toes, your feet are less likely to over-pronate because your big toe is in proper alignment, providing a wider base of support. If exercises like squatting are being done with over-pronating feet, you run the risk of injuring your ankles, knees and/or back, and can negatively affect form which can decrease your strength and endurance.
When your toes are spread and pressed into the ground, the body is capable of generating more power and energy. You can take full advantage of the workout when participating in exercises such as kettlebell swings, box jumps or deadlifts. Focusing on the fundamentals can set you up for noticeable progress and fortify the intrinsic muscles. Strengthening the intrinsic (arch) muscles is key and helps increase balance, muscle volume and overall athletic performance. In addition, strong arch muscles can help with many common foot problems such as plantar fascia pain and improper alignment in the 1st and 5th toe joints, which result in bunions.
By incorporating Correct Toes into your routine, you can avoid injuries and combat misalignment by promoting proper balance. Correct Toes are the only toe spacers that can be worn during weight-bearing activities, so you can comfortably be free in your movement.
From the article, “Correct Toes: Get the Most out of Your Workout through Proper Alignment”. Want to read more? Click here: https://www.correcttoes.com/foot-help/correct-toes-get-workout-proper-alignment/
2.) In addition to wearing your Correct Toes during your workout, consider making the switch to healthy footwear.
A majority of conventional footwear constrict and confine the feet into unnatural and often painful positions. Certain design features in these commonly used shoes can deform the feet over time and lead to foot issues like bunions, hammertoes, plantar fasciosis, neuromas, and ingrown toenails. Instead, we recommend shoes that allow your feet to function naturally. Quick tip? Look for shoes that are flat, widest at the ends of the toes, and flexible. Over time, the benefits of switching to healthy footwear are immeasurable; with the transition to natural footwear, structural alignment, muscular development, and proprioception will increase naturally.
Here are five fundamental features we look for in footwear:
For a list of Correct Toes Approved shoe options, click on this link: https://www.correcttoes.com/foot-help/shoe-list/correct-toes-approved-shoes/
“I resolve to save more money!”
In many cases, Correct Toes have been able to steer people away from getting expensive surgeries through conservative and consistent use of Correct Toes. Along with the use of flat, flexible shoes that are widest at the tips of the toes, Correct Toes can prevent the need for a second- or even third- bunion surgery by getting to the root of the problem and not just providing a temporary solution. Learn more about Dr. McClanahan’s philosophy here:
Of course, success with the device depends on many factors, such as a person’s age, how often Correct Toes are used, level of physical activity, how often appropriate footwear is worn, etc. Most people experience some relief right away, with continued positive results over many months. For architectural changes to take place, time and dedication are required. For instance, in attempting to reverse a bunion, SOME movement of the big toe will likely be visible within a few months. Further progressive changes will continue over many months or years. Ultimately, it is an investment in lifelong optimal foot health without the potential added expense of surgery.
