By Brian Hoke<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
As a health care practitioner who regularly works toward maintaining optimal foot health, I see hundreds of individuals every year that have a mismatch between their \u201cChronological Foot Age\u201d in calendar years and their \u201cPhysiological Foot Age\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Chronological Foot Age is simply how many birthdays you have celebrated.\u00a0 Like other aspects of health, looking at a cross section of individuals who are the same age will reveal a wide variety with regard to how the body has handled these years.\u00a0 A useful analogy is attending a ten year high school class reunion.\u00a0 As you look around the room you will see people who seem to have been frozen in time and have changed little since the day they graduated.\u00a0 At the other end of the spectrum are those who require a second take to realize who they are because of changes in their health and appearance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The \u201cPhysiological Foot Age\u201d refers to foot health with regard to how well the foot is maintaining its alignment, structure, strength, and flexibility.\u00a0 A \u201cphysiologically young\u201d foot has good structural alignment, good blood flow, and mobile joints with well-maintained joint surfaces that are supported by strong muscles. A \u201cprematurely older\u201d foot is characterized by loss of alignment and development of structural problems such as flatter arches, bunions and hammertoes. The muscles are weaker and less efficient and the ligaments that support the structure are overstretched due to stresses of supporting the body\u2019s weight.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n There are multiple factors that contribute to maintaining foot health and a young \u201cPhysiological Foot Age\u201d.\u00a0 These can be separated into non-modifiable and modifiable factors.\u00a0 The non-modifiable factors are those that we do not have control over, and perhaps the most significant is genetics.\u00a0 Like other components of health, foot structure follows family trends, but even within families there is typically considerable variation.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Beyond the inherent foot characteristics from our parents\u2019 genetics, there are modifiable factors that we have control over to keep our feet physiologically younger.\u00a0 The greatest impact comes from purposeful sustained exercise.\u00a0 This can be a structured program under the watchful guidance of a knowledgeable fitness instructor or it may be as simple as a daily program to get the benefits of walking.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Participation in a regular exercise strategy has consistently shown it will help maintain overall health, reduce depression, and lower weight and BMI (Body Mass Index).\u00a0 With each step, the impact force is not simply our body weight; it is actually a multiple of that number.\u00a0 In walking, the vertical ground reaction force is about 1 \u00bd times our weight, and when we run it increases to 3-5 times our body weight\u00a0 (even more running down hill).\u00a0 This means if we lose 6 pounds, it\u2019s actually like losing 9 pounds on our joints when we are walking, and it\u2019s like losing 18-30 pounds if we are a runner. This highlights the physiological benefits of walking and running.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n When we opt for weight bearing exercises to improve or maintain our \u201cPhysiological Foot Age\u201d it is critical to provide structural support through well designed footwear.\u00a0 Many people also benefit from an anatomically designed <\/span>insole<\/span><\/a> or custom foot orthotic\u00a0 to prevent the foot from moving outside the optimal path of movement.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n There are many components to keeping our feet \u201cphysiologically young\u201d.\u00a0 Take control over those factors that are within your control.\u00a0 Participate in a regular component of exercise and include some exercises for strengthening the many muscles within the foot.\u00a0 Equip yourself with performance shoes <\/a><\/span>the natural shape of your foot and includes cushioning, especially when you are standing or walking on man-made surfaces. Walking has physiological benefits and can even help with mental health. For added comfort, consider investing in comfortable walking shoes for women<\/a> to support your feet throughout the day. If you have pain or are noticing signs of \u201cpremature foot aging\u201d, seek a consultation with a health care practitioner who is well versed with foot biomechanics and conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Specializing in orthopedic and sports physical therapy, Brian Hoke, DPT, SCS has a particular interest in the biomechanical factors influencing lower limb rehabilitation. He is owner of Atlantic Physical Therapy, a private practice in Virginia Beach, VA.<\/span><\/p>\n Brian is a board certified Clinical Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy, a distinction achieved by fewer than 600 physical therapists in the U.S. He works with athletes of all levels\u2014from recreational runners to elite professional and Olympic athletes. He has contributed chapters to two textbooks on the treatment of running injuries.<\/span><\/p>\n Brian is an avid educator, lecturing extensively in the U.S. and internationally. Since 1985, he has been a faculty member of the popular continuing medical education seminar, \u201cWhen the Feet Hit the Ground, Everything Changes.\u201d He co-developed and has taught the \u201cTake the Next Step\u201d course since 1990. In addition, he has been an adjunct faculty member of physical therapy programs at Old Dominion University and Touro College on Long Island, NY.<\/span><\/p>\n Brian\u2019s expertise in sports physical therapy is a particular asset to Vionic\u2019s athletic line of footwear. He and Phillip Vasyli have also collaborated to create a <\/span>foot orthotic designed for problems with supination<\/span><\/a>\u2014when feet roll outward too much.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"What Is My Foot Health?<\/b><\/h2>\n
What Determines Your Foot Health?<\/b><\/h2>\n
Ways To Improve My Foot Health<\/b><\/h2>\n
Do What You Can To Maintain Your Foot Health<\/b><\/h2>\n
About the Author:\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n