Thursday, July 2, 2009

I wish...

I wish I had learned this years ago (there's actually a whole list of things that should go in the category, but that's another post). I have a serious problem with my feet; the arches have collapsed, and they have been that way for quite a while. Now that I have seriously started walking for exercise I am feeling the pain in my feet and legs. So, I went to see a podiatrist (specialist in foot problems).

I learned that there are supposed to be two arches in the foot, one that you see from the side (actually composed of the lateral and medial arch) and one you should see from the front or toe, the transverse arch. I've been trying to find pictures that illustrate the problem, but this is the best I've found:




When the arches fall, several things happen. One is that the ankle is rotated out of position causing the toes to point out (duck walk). Another problem is that you could say that the arch is the spring for your step, and when you lose the arch the shock of each step is carried by the toes and the ankle and the knee.

Which explains why I have always walked with my toes out, and why I have ankle and knee problems.

The first thing the podiatrist did was show me how to wear the PSC by www.fabrifoam.com. This device (kinda like a fancy, specialized ACE bandage) lifts the arch and helps the foot and ankle move towards a more natural alignment. And it does help, which I found hard to believe at first, but I can easily walk twice as far without pain.

The next step occurs next week, when I see a specialist who will build me a set of custom orthotics to wear in my shoes that will lift and support the arch. My podiatrist tells me that they will be very painful at first until my feet get used to the new positioning, but in the long run I will be much more comfortable.

I'll let you know.:)

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