Foot problems

We take about 15 000 steps every day, and several millions steps during our lifetime. Everyone walks in his or her own style, but our feet’s functioning is important.

There are several factors that have an impact on the way we move: footwear trends, habitual movements and postures, work, and our body’s structural aspects, weaknesses and strengths. In addition to our physical characteristics and environment, the habits that we have acquired during our life also form and strain our body in several ways. It is, therefore, important to acquire the right patterns of motion early on. Different sports and exercises strain our body, and for top athletes, the strain may be tenfold.

Studies show that 70 % of the population suffers from lower extremity problems. Symptoms occur in feet, but pain can also occur in different parts of the body. The foot’s function is to bear the body’s weight, and it functions best on a soft, yielding surface. Before shoes and concrete, walking was easy. The foot was slightly pronated and supinated in order to adapt to changes in the terrain and to absorb the shock while running or walking. Today we wear high heels and narrow, tight footwear, and we stand, walk and run on hard, unyielding surfaces. This strains our muscles, tendons and joints. If the feet pronate or supinate while stationary, the risk of developing foot problems is increased. Only a few kilometers’ run, a few extra pounds in weight or a few more years in age may be enough to cause these problems.