In Dr. Phillip Mafftetone’s book, In Fitness and In Health, he discusses the importance of having good shoes to prevent injuries and maintain a body of optimal performance. Although you might think that shoes with extra cushioning and shock absorption would be offer the best protection, you better think again.
Dr. Maffetone emphasizes getting back to our grass roots in human health. Oftentimes, when wearing the wrong shoes, we risk interfering with our body’s ability to adapt by preventing the nerve endings on the bottom of the feet from sensing and sending vital information to the brain. More upscale shoes having added cushioning, shock absorption and motion control may actually be causing the body more harm and increasing the likelihood of future injuries.
At IHD, we are always emphasizing to our patients about the importance of good shoes even in situations where the feet do not hurt. The wrong shoes can lead to problems related to the feet, knees, legs, low back and even sometimes as far up as the shoulder, neck and jaw. There are plenty of guidelines, but in general you will want to spend adequate time trying on different pairs of shoes to find the right one for you. When testing out a shoe you like, find a hard surface to try them out on instead of thick soft carpet that are in many shoe stores. If possible, you may even ask the shoe salesman whether you can try walking around with them outside since this is where they are really going to be tested.
Having the right shoe is especially a concern for parents with kids since their feet are growing so quickly. We always emphasize to parents that when they are in doubt, get the kids some new shoes. Dr. Maffetone recommends buying an inexpensive shoe that can be great for providing safe exercise over more expensive fancy shoes that could outgrow the child within a few months.
At IHD, we always aim towards a pro-active approach to health and the better we know our subscribers needs, the better we can serve you. This months Living Wellness workshop is on How To Raise A Healthy Child. It will be on Saturday, September 9th from 11:30am to 1:00pm. Call us at (858-558-0057) to RSVP or ask for more details.