Flat Feet
The Device for strengthening of the foot muscles
You can easily make this device yourself if you have a little skill.
In this page, you can find instructions how to exercise with this device.
According to statistics, some 60 percent of children have flat feet. The reason for that can be found in the modern way of living. We spend more and more time in a sitting position, and even when we walk or practice sports, our footwear is generally designed in a way which doesn’t support anatomic needs of a foot, but, quite the opposite, contributes to the falling of longitudinal and transversal arch of a foot, thus creating flat feet.
The crucial period for forming of proper arches of the foot is childhood. While growing and developing, human organisms have to receive adequate stimulation in order to interact with the biological mechanisms predicted for any given activity.
During evolution, the human foot grew longer. – If we walked on four legs, we wouldn’t wear our normal shoe size, but one half our size. Walking as we do, in an upright position, we have to have bigger support surface, as well as a take off cylinder, to be able to walk and run.
If, since childhood, activities for which the feet are meant are not encouraged, biological mechanisms slowly loose their function and deformities develop.
Soft footwear, as well as one with a lifted front part (which is usually the case), doesn’t allow activation of foot muscles in a proper way. This makes them loose their function and also lowers bones which support the arches of the feet.
The solution for this problem is to use orthotics (shoe inserts-insoles) for a foot arch support.
However!
If we support already formed flat feet and thus formed ligaments and muscles by means of insoles, they will elongate. Elongated in such a way, they will weaken even more, creating a constant need for the insoles, and worsening the condition without them.
The only solution, apart from wearing the insoles, is to do work-outs designed for the feet in order to strengthen the muscles so that the feet can take over their biological function.
However, it is senseless to work out for fifteen minutes and wear inadequate footwear for fifteen hours.
If you want to take this problem seriously, do the following:
- Consult your doctor for adequate footwear.
- Walk as much as you can barefoot, and, it is particularly important that during your walking, the last take off impulse comes from the toes. That particular moment is excluded when we wear shoes with a lifted (curved) front part (or one with a narrowed, toe-tightening front part), and most shoes are like that.
- If you are wearing insoles, get ones with an adjusting curve which allows you to gradually lift your foot arch.
- Parallel with wearing the insoles, do the exercises for your feet.
- It is important to find an adequate sport shoes / sneakers/, and to run. In time, your goal should be to run only on the front part of your feet (which is the best exercise for forming the arches), with your heels not touching the ground. You shouldn’t try this at first. – It takes many preparations for such training. If you would like to learn how to prepare yourself for that, please contact us.
... NEXT ...
