The 3 Types of Foot Strikes: Pronation, Supination, and Neutral

Did you know that the way you walk may affect the overall health of your feet? Everybody walks a little different, and the way your foot lands on the ground, or “strikes” the ground when you step, can really help or hinder your ability to walk or run long distances. Knowing your foot strike will help you get the right shoes and equipment to ensure you have happy feet.

Type 1: Pronation

The first type of foot strike is called Pronation. If you have ever been caught “flat-footed,” then you have been caught pronating. Pronation occurs when your arch flattens on your strike, causing your foot and ankle to roll inward. This causes stress on the ankles and can create shin splints and cause other lower leg issues. A quick way to tell if you over pronate is by checking how the soles of your shoes wear out. If they are worn out on the inside of the sole, then it is likely that you are a pronator.

Type 2: Supination

The second type of strike is called Supination. If you guessed it is the opposite of pronation, than you’re absolutely right. Supination is when, instead of being flat-footed, you have high arches. When your foot strikes the ground, much of the cushion of the foot is lost. The foot doesn’t flatten at all on impact, and there is little shock absorption. The affect is an outward roll and can cause plantar fasciitis, ankle sprains, and other foot and leg injuries.

Type 3: Neutral

A Neutral foot strike occurs when you neither over pronate nor supinate. It is when the foot strikes in an effective, efficient manner and typically leads to the least amount of injuries while running or walking.

Which Type Are You?

So which type are you? A popular (and easy) way to test which strike you have is the “Wet Test.” You can do this at home, and it only takes some water, paper, and about five minutes of your time.

First, lay out the paper; a dark color often works best. Try a brown paper bag from your local grocery store. Get the bottom of your foot wet by stepping in a bowl or pan of water or your bathtub. Then step onto the paper and step off. Examine your wet footprint. Based on the amount of foot print you see, you will be able to tell your strike. If much of the sole of your foot is visible – almost like it was flat – then you are a pronator. If the opposite holds true, and just the outside edge of your sole appears, then you are likely a supinator. If it looks to be well balanced, you probably have an efficient neutral strike.

You can always trust the professionals. Any running store employee worth their paycheck should be able to help you determine how your foot lands. Also, a podiatrist or other foot care professional can help make the determination. By knowing which type of foot you have, you can ensure that you have the proper shoes and orthotics to avoid pain and discomfort. Your feet with be a lot happier.

The Battle Against Stinky Feet

Chances are somebody you know or love suffers from stinky feet. You can hardly blame them. Did you know that between your two feet there are nearly half a million sweat glands? But your feet aren’t alone.

For example, the palms of your hands have a comparable number of tiny, sweaty pores. So why don’t our hands get that same yucky odor? Three words: Shoes and socks. Imagine those ½ a million pores on our feet, wrapped in cotton and leather, all tied up nice and tight. Naturally, with those soggy socks and sweaty toes comes inevitable odor. You might be interested to know, however, that the sweat from your feet is actually odorless.

Bacteria are really what cause the smells. Bacteria will thrive in between your toes and around the soles of your feet and are held captive by your shoes and socks. The smell starts to form when the bacteria digests the sweat. Some describe it as a sour smell or like malt vinegar or limburger cheese. Others, like my wife, describe it simply as “gross” and “unacceptable.”

So how do we battle the foot odor? Either get rid of the sweat, or get rid of the bacteria.

Here are some effective ways to cut down on foot sweat:

• In-soles: There are a number of sweat-reducing insoles available to purchase. These are often times charcoal based, and they suck the sweat right up.
• Ventilated Shoes: Wearing sandals or other open toed shoes open up air flow and reduce sweat.
• Sweat-Absorbing Socks: By wearing new, clean cotton socks, you can actually reduce sweat as the cotton acts as an absorbent.
• Air Out Your Shoes: Take some time each day to remove your shoes and socks to let your feet dry out and enjoy some air.
• Antiperspirants: Yep, you can even apply an antiperspirant to your feet.

Here are some proven methods to reduce bacteria on your feet:

• Use antibacterial soap on your feet to keep them clean.
• Be sure to frequently rotate your socks and make sure they are always clean as well.
• Wear a variety of different shoes and rotate them frequently.

If these measures are ineffective and the odor persists, then it’s probably time to consult a doctor. He or she may have other suggestions or prescriptions that could help reduce those offensive odors.

Do Women Get Cold Feet More than Men?

We’ve all heard the expression, but this isn’t about your wedding day or your job interview. It’s about those literal blocks of ice at the end of your legs.

Dr. Robert J. Faux and the good people at Foot Scientific can’t help you when it comes to fear of commitments, but they sure can help you combat distal hypothermia (getting those little piggies warmer).

According to Dr. Faux, cold feet is among the most common foot complaint. This is often NOT because there is anything wrong or cold with your body but because your strong, warm heart is so far away from your feet.

However, there are general medical issues that can be problematic, and if so, the following conditions should be explored:

• A poor circulation condition such as atherosclerosis
• Disorders of the nervous system
• Low thyroid condition

Now if you are a woman reading this, you probably won’t be surprised to find that you are nine times more likely than a man to develop cold in your extremities. Consider these theories:

• Women’s bodies generally favor blood supply for internal insulation, while men’s muscle mass is more heat generating, having better supplied blood vessels in general.
• On the other hand, women’s skin is thinner at the feet than men’s skin, having less subcutaneous insulation.
• Women can more easily suffer from iron deficiency. Iron carries oxygen in the blood and its lack can challenge blood flow.
• Women have less water than men as a percentage.

If you are aging, Dr. Greg Anderson, Podiatrist, reminds us to consider these factors:

• Blood flows through us with less dynamic force.
• Capillaries to the skin are less developed.
• Nutrition is not as well processed which causes breakdowns in skin circulation.

7 Hot Tips for 10 Cold Toes

We all get older, and half of us are women. Now what?

1. Shoes - Dr. Faux emphasizes how much good can come from simply choosing the right shoes. You know how those tight-toed shoes feel colder? That’s simply a circulation issue.
2. Socks - Natural fibers that are not as tightly woven as synthetics can hold the warm air around your feet better than the thinner socks. Also, change your sock more often. Your feet quickly create moisture, and dry socks are, of course, warmer socks.
3. Hydration – You would most likely benefit by drinking a lot more water than you do. Your toes will thank you for the increased circulation pressure and delivery of nutrients and warmth.
4. Water Bowl/Water Massager - Electric blankets: Nice. Battery heated slippers: VERY nice (3volt.net).
5. Wear a Hat – As funny as it seems, a lot of people say wearing a warm hat helps their feet stay warm as well. We know that overall body temperature is effected by a good hat given much of our body heat is lost from our heads running at 10,000 jigawats of brain power.
6. Lotions or Ointments - Some lotions or ointments create a bit of a tingle, but they do help. You might want to check out lanolin.
7. Get Those Feet Moving – Exercise expands capillary growth to the extremities as blood is forced to create expanded channels while you’re moving around. Even with these tips work or not, Dr. Faux suggests that you seek medical attention if you notice any changes in color, sores or ulcers, or any unexplained pain in your feet.

Diabetes Can Knock You off Your Feet

store@footscientific.com Site: http://www.footscientific.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FootScientific? Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FootScientific Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/footscientific? Source" style="border-style: none;" />

Diabetes can cause problems that can affect your feet.Good foot care can help people with diabetes to avoid foot problems. Take care of your feet, get regular check-ups from your doctor or feel free to contact FootScientific through phone, or email using the details found on this page. 

Address: 165 West Canyon Crest Road, Alpine, UT 84004

Phone: (801) 642-2084

Email: store@footscientific.com

Site: http://www.footscientific.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FootScientific?

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FootScientific

Youtube: 

Source

Diabetes Can Knock You off Your Feet

Diabetes can cause problems that can affect your feet.Good foot care can help people with diabetes to avoid foot problems. Take care of your feet, get regular check-ups from your doctor or feel free to contact FootScientific through phone, or email using the details found on this page.


Address: 165 West Canyon Crest Road, Alpine, UT 84004
Phone: (801) 642-2084
Email: store@footscientific.com
Site: http://www.footscientific.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FootScientific?
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FootScientific
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/footscientific?


Source