Just like the foundation of a house supports the structure, your feet are the foundation for your entire body. Your feet support your body as you stand, walk, run and jump. Your feet also absorb the shock that enters your body whenever the heels and balls of your feet hit the ground. In fact, the muscles in your feet and legs can absorb impact forces of up to 3 or 4 times your body weight when you’re running. Therefore, it’s important that you strengthen your feet for a stronger foundation.
4 Ways to Strengthen Your Feet
- Exercise your feet. Exercises like the ones in this video will strengthen your feet, ankles and calves while improving flexibility. Additionally, these exercises can help you move with better balance, power and control. Perform these exercises for 15 minutes every day to increase the strength and flexibility of your feet. Note: Talk with doctor before starting a foot exercise program, especially if you have fallen arches.
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Photo credit: 123RF / Arman Zhenikeyev
Strengthen your feet’s arches. For your feet to function properly, you need to have foot core strength. In other words, you need strong, stable muscles in your feet’s arches. Many people think they have one arch in their feet. However, you actually have three arches – lateral (outside), transverse (center), and medial (inside) arches. These arches all work together when you stand, walk, run or jump. When your arches function properly, they provide foot core strength, balance and power. Exercises, like toe splaying and big toe presses, can help strengthen your arches.
- Participate in activities like Pilates, yoga, martial arts and some types of dance. These activities help build core foot strength when you change positions that allow your feet and body to interact with ground forces.
- Walk barefoot. Take your shoes off when you’re walking around your home to reengage the muscles in your feet. Removing your shoes helps to reestablish important neural connections between the large and small intrinsic muscles in your feet that may be inhibited while wearing shoes.
Other ways you can help strengthen your feet, include:
- Ditch the high heels. Shoes with a high heel-to-toe ratio negatively affect the anatomy of your feet. High heels shorten the Achilles tendon in your calves and cause your hips to tilt forward. This action makes it harder for your glutes and abs to function, which causes them to weaken over time. If you must wear high heels, only wear them for special occasions, and avoid walking long distances in them.
- Wear shoes that have an ample toe box for the shape of your feet. Narrow shoes cause your toes to push together, which decreases dexterity and causes the muscles in your forefoot to atrophy. Buy shoes that allow your toes to spread instead of crunching them. You should be able to freely wiggle your toes when wearing your shoes.
- Ensure your shoes fit properly. For more information, refer to the WalkEZStore’s Shoe Fitting Guide.
WalkEZStore Custom Orthotics Provide a Better Foot Foundation
If your feet are strong, your foundation will be strong, too. Another benefit you’ll gain from strengthening your feet is, you’ll help alleviate and prevent pain throughout your body. Custom orthotics, like ezWalker® Custom Fit Orthotics, are designed to help support your medial, lateral and transverse arches of your feet, providing your body with a stronger foundation. Additionally, ezWalker® custom orthotics guide your feet into better alignment for greater stability, balance and control.
When you strengthen your feet, it can help reduce or eliminate the symptoms of painful foot conditions, like plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis. ezWalker® custom orthotics also can provide your feet and body with pain relief by transferring pressure away from painful areas.
For more information about ezWalker® Performance Custom Orthotics, visit the WalkEZStore.com. To order your pair of ezWalker® custom orthotics, visit our online store. Our custom orthotics come with a 90-day, money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose – except your foot pain.
Because … when your feet feel good, you feel good.®
Disclaimer: The information included in this article is for educational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Cover photo credit: 123RF / Komkrit Suwanwela
