If you are an avid runner, walker, or someone who engages in any type of activity wherein you are constantly on your feet, this article may boast some information for your tired, achy feet.
My husband and I run every morning. I have been running since I was 12 years of age, so I have a good 33 years of running under my belt….literally under my belt….the endless pounding on my feet is beginning to show itself now. My husband began running when we got married 16 years ago. Whereas he used to chase me before we got married, he now runs to keep up with me!
Lately, both of us have noticed that when we first awaken in the morning and put our feet on the floor, the first few steps are a bit awkward, if not a bit painful. This just started for both of us within the past few months, leading me to ponder the possible causes for this problem.
Initially, I thought it might be my running shoes. I log about 50 miles per week, and I am not the best about getting new ones when I should. At some point, I am wondering if I should run barefoot as opposed to putting on my running shoes, as they do get that bad. My husband is equally negligent about replacing his running gear.
I also wondered if my running stride was a bit off due to knee surgery I had a couple of years ago. My knee does not bother me now, but I may have changed my stance and my stride after the surgery to compensate for the post-operative pain.
Here in Kansas City, we have some great podiatrists, and chief among them is Dr. Michael Nachlas of The Podiatry Associates in Shawnee Mission, Kansas. I began visiting his office a few years ago when bunions and hammer toes became a problem. I decided to pursue him a bit for his medical opinions on my aching dogs.
I advised Dr. Nachlas about my early-morning foot drag. He indicated that as long as the pain dissipates after a few steps, this is truly considered normal. He did note that perhaps engaging in a runner’s stretch prior to going to bed at night might alleviate the morning problem. (I was kind of hoping he would also note that if my husband gave me generous foot rubs each night, that would be the most effective modality!)
Further, I have read commentary in various running publications that wearing inserts in your shoes while running might actually cause more harm than good. The articles noted that they could serve to cause your entire skeletal structure to be misaligned, thereby causing a host of problems from the ground up. Dr. Nachlas indicates what type of inserts can be worn when running.
“As long as the inserts are custom-made, it is okay to run in them,” he explained. (Note to self: return package to Wal-Mart!)
I am well aware that many podiatrists are not the staunchest advocates of long-term running careers. Dr. Nachlas even mentioned to me on one of my visits that cycling or swimming provide excellent exercise alternatives. While I also engage in both of those activities, I insist that, once a runner, always a runner. Perhaps one day I will heed his warning:
“Running can affect the joints in the feet and knees after running for years. This can sometimes lead to permanent damage,” he said.
This leads me to my question about footwear. I run a host of races throughout the year, and it is not unusual for me to see some fellow participants running barefoot. I guess that is a good way to save money on shoes, as they usually cost about $150.00 for a good pair. Since I do not plan on running without shoes any time soon, I presented my question to Dr. Nachlas about appropriate running footwear.
“Make sure the shoes are fitted on you at a professional running store. Some of the things that a professional will consider when fitting you with a running shoes is whether or not the foot slides in the shoe, how wide the toe box is, and where the heel fits in the shoe,” he noted.
Our feet take a lot of pounding day in and day out, and the heavier you are, the more stress it puts upon those babies.
“The feet are the base by which our super structure is supported. Therefore, untreated symptoms can lead to upper body problems,” explained Dr. Nachlas.
In this day and age of increasing diligence towards preventative health measures, Dr. Nachlas encourages individuals to seek out the care of a licensed podiatrist as the place to start for preventative foot care, diabetic foot care, and surgical foot care. The number of conservative treatments available today is growing, he noted, so surgery is always considered as a last resort and only when agreed upon by the patient and the Doctor. Many people, perhaps myself included, tend to leave a foot problem untreated until it becomes a bigger problem. (I still think a nightly foot rub would be great preventative treatment!)
I suppose now I will have to break the news to my 105-year-old grandmother that she will have to toss the bunny slippers and get some sneakers when she decides to start jogging again! However, these days, most of her “jogging” is from the den to the kitchen!