Your Feet Shouldn't Hurt
by Dr. Les Appel
Even though I am a podiatrist, my past patients and customers of Powerstep are surprised when I make this statement. Most people believe and logically assume that their feet should hurt because they put their entire body weight on them and take thousands of steps per day. Of course, some people’s feet will hurt, but the majority of the population can ambulate virtually pain free. Most foot pain is caused by imbalances in the foot’s basic structure. With the proper modification, the foot can become a smoother working machine and be virtually pain free.
The gait cycle occurs from the moment the heel contacts the ground to the big toe pushing your body weight forward with each step. The most visible signs of pronation are the flattening of the arch and the inward rolling of the heel toward the arch side. The purpose of pronation is for the foot to naturally adapt to soft supporting surfaces such as earth or sand. Unfortunately, most modern surfaces are like cement, hard and unyielding. These hard surfaces force the foot to pronate too long during the gait cycle and not reach the point of supination, which stabilizes and locks the foot resulting in an efficient step forward. If your foot does not lock and remains loose, many ailments can occur including heel pain, bunions, corns, calluses, ankle, knee, and even back pain, just to name a few.
So, how can we keep the foot working efficiently and painlessly? The most important item is your shoes. Since most people do not walk on a soft surface, support and cushioning become necessary. The heel counter of the shoe, which wraps around the perimeter of your heel, should be stiff. A famous quote is “ as the heel goes, so goes the rest of your foot.” Therefore, decreasing the “rock n’ roll motion” of the heel with a quality heel counter is essential. Your shoe should also be able to bend easily at the ball of your foot and have enough room for your toes.
Additionally, most insoles in shoes don’t offer enough support for the heel and arch. Products such as Powerstep orthotics help keep the heel in its proper position. The polypropylene shell is scientifically designed to be flexible enough for comfort and spring, yet supportive enough to help eliminate excessive pronation. It also has a superb cushioning system that can offer instant pain relief.
Properly supportive shoes must work in concert with an orthotic such as Powerstep that supplies balance, control, spring and comfort. With this combination, pain free feet are often not just a dream but an attainable reality. No matter what your level of physical activity or how long you are on your feet each day, remember: your feet shouldn’t hurt.
