In part one I talked about the benefits of reflexology.
In part two I will be discussing the bio mechanics of you feet.
Bio Mechanics simply means, the study of ambulation, or how a living thing transports itself.
Definition below:
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomechanics
So, if we are to think about our feet and how they were intended to move, one would have to say, “God designed our feet to walk on the earth. Meaning the earth in it’s natural state, not the earth as man has paved it with concrete, wood floors, asphalt, or any other man made surface. As we do not walk on the natural earth, how can we expect our feet to perform with any amount of efficiency the way God intended? We wear shoes that don’t always fit properly. We wear shoes that don’t always follow the shape of our feet. We wear shoes that better fit our eyes than our feet. So why should we expect our feet to feel good all the time? We shouldn’t unless we are following some simple rules.
Rule #1. Always pick a pair of shoes that not only fit your eyes, but also fit your feet. In other words, make sure the follow the shape of your feel and that they don’t hurt when you wear them.
Rule #2. Pick a pair of shoes designed for the job. If you are going to go hiking, don’t wear a pair of high heels. If you are going to be dressed up and out on the town, don’t wear a pair of work boots. If you are going to be doing yard work, wear a pair of shoes or boots that are strong, supportive, and protective. If you are going to the beach it is best to wear footwear that will protect your feet from the possibility of injury. Even a pair of flip flops is better than nothing when at the beach or pool.
Rule #3. Always, always, make sure the shoes you are wearing fit properly and have good support. The shoe fitting reference guide at www.walkezstore.com is the best fitting guide on the web.
Best way to follow rule #3 is to go to a specialist in the field of pedorthics and have your gait checked for proper bio mechanics. Make sure your feet walk as bio mechanically correct as possible. You may be asking, “What is bio mechanically correct when it comes to my feet?” A foot that walks bio mechanically correct is one that strikes at the lateral or outside of the heel, and then transfers your body weight to the big toe joint or the 1st metatarsal. The heel or calcaneus is the largest bone in the hind foot. The 1st metatarsal head is the biggest joint in the forefoot. These two areas are designed to carry weight due to their size.
Pronation is a necessary movement for the foot to move bio mechanically correct. Let me explain that in a bit more detail.
Pronation
In anatomy, pronation is a rotational movement foot (at the subtalar and talocalcaneonavicular joints)[1]. Pronation of the foot refers to how the body distributes weight as it cycles through the gait. Types of pronation include neutral pronation, underpronation (supination), and overpronation.
Neutral Pronation
An individual who neutrally pronates initially strikes the ground on the lateral side of the heel. As the individual transfers weight from the heel to the metatarsus, the foot will roll in a medial direction, such that the weight is distributed evenly across the metatarsus. In this stage of the gait, the knee will generally, but not always, track directly over the hallux.
This “rolling inwards” motion as the foot progresses from heel to toe is the way that the body naturally absorbs shock. Neutral pronation is the most ideal, efficient type of gait.
[edit]Overpronation
As with a neutral pronator, an individual who overpronates initially strikes the ground on the lateral side of the heel. As the individual transfers weight from the heel to the metatarsus, however, the foot will roll too far in a medial direction, such that the weight is distributed unevenly across the metatarsus, with excessive weight borne on the hallux. In this stage of the gait, the knee will generally, but not always, track inwards.
An overpronator does not absorb shock efficiently. Imagine someone jumping onto a diving board, but the board is so flimsy that when it is struck, it bends and allows the person to plunge straight down into the water instead of back into the air. Similarly, an overpronator’s arches will collapse, or the ankles will roll inwards (or a combination of the two) as he or she cycles through the gait.
An individual whose bone structure involves external rotation at the hip, knee, or ankle will be more likely to overpronate than one whose bone structure has internal rotation or central alignment.
[edit]Underpronation (supination)
An individual who underpronates also initially strikes the ground on the lateral side of the heel. As the individual transfers weight from the heel to the metatarsus, the foot will not roll far enough in a medial direction. The weight is distributed unevenly across the metatarsus, with excessive weight borne on the fifth metatarsal, towards the lateral side of the foot. In this stage of the gait, the knee will generally, but not always, track laterally of the hallux.
Like an overpronator, an underpronator does not absorb shock efficiently – but for the opposite reason. The underpronated foot is like a diving board that, instead of failing to spring someone in the air because it is too flimsy, fails to do so because it is too rigid. There is virtually no give. An underpronator’s arches or ankles will not experience much motion as he or she cycles through the gait.
An individual whose bone structure involves internal rotation at the hip, knee, or ankle will be more likely to underpronate than one whose bone structure has external rotation or central alignment. Usually – but not always – those who are bow-legged tend to underpronate.
BATTLING IMPROPER BIO MECHANICS OF THE FEET.
So for the over or under pronator help is needed. That help comes from the use of a properly fitted and fabricated custom orthotic arch support device. A proper orthotic will guide the foot into a better bio mechanical step with every step that is taken during the gait cycle. Even the neutral pronator may benefit from a good orthotic device by helping to reduse general fatigue from a busy lifestyle.
If bio mechanics is so important, why dosen’t everyone wear an orthotic? Very good question. The professionals at www.walkezstore.com believe every one should be wearing a properly designed, bio mechanically correcting, custom crafted an fabricated orthotic arch support.
Think of it this way, shoes are made in mirror matched images and feet are not. No two feet are exactly alike, not even on the same body. People run into problems wearing mass-production footwear for exactly this reason. The WalkEZstore.com has resolved that problem with the custom fitted ezWalker. The ezWalker provides a custom fitted base in your shoes for the foot to rest and get the bio mechanical help it needs to effectively provide comfort, support and balance, and even improve posture and reduce pain. Most pain and discomfort of the feet, knees, low back and even spinal pain is rooted in the feet due to lack of proper alignment and bio mechanical action. At the walkezstore.com, you will find the only place on the web where quality, craftsmanship, and satifaction are found with a product you can trust or your money back. The only store on the web doing proper casting or molding techniques, that deliver the best bio mechanically sound orthotic you can buy on the Internet. Don’t be fooled by other stores claiming their products will make your feet feel good. Nothing works like the ezWaker. Custom crafted just for you, this fit is the best fit. Don’t pay more than you have to. Compare the prices at the Walkezstore.com. The ezWalker is about 1/2 the price of other orthotics claiming to be bio mechanically sound.
Want more information on bio mechanics? Do your own search. Then contact the Walkezstore.com for comparasion information. Send your questions to info@walkezstore.com.
The owner, Kathy Carandang, Certified Pedorthist will personally answer your questions with promptness and customer service like no other store on the web. E-mail or call today. Get yourself an ezWalker. Once you wear an ezWalker in you shoes, you’ll wonder what you ever did without it. The ezWalker makes your shoes feel like they walk for you. Don’t delay, get and ezWalker today.
