Keeping Your Feet In Shape

When you are able to keep exercising, or just keep your daily routine, you feel good. Inability to keep mobile bothers your physical as well as your mental well being. Keeping your feet in shape helps allow you to remain “on the go”. Periodic problems, aches and pains can be treated by your podiatrist to give you comfort and keep you walking.

What can you do to help maintain good foot health?:
If you have followed the foot health in this column, written by Dr. Schneider since 1978, you will recall we have discussed walking, mall walking, and less assertive foot exercises for those confined to a chair or home. Still another alternative is water walking. This is a new activity which is growing in popularity. Water walking is just what it sounds like. It is walking in thigh deep or deeper water. In shallower water this activity provides a low stress aerobic workout without the pounding impact of other sports. In deeper water upper body exercise is provided. Like other activities gradually building up the exercise of walking through water, varying the pace and types of movement should be done. This exercise can be done at local swim or fitness clubs or at a beach. It allows for a social or quiet thoughtful atmosphere.

This type of exercise is commonly recommended for post operative rehabilitation. It is excellent for the person who has had low impact exercise prescribed. It is used for rehabilitating athletes. You do not need to be athletic or know how to swim to do this form of exercise. It involves natural movements and develops strength and endurance for all your activities. Since you weight less in water than on land this exercise program is more relaxing and stress free.

Water walking burns calories, tends to keep the heart rate down while exercising and the water provides resistance increasing the aerobic benefits.

Now keep in mind, this program is not a cure for any medical problem. It is a recommendation to help keep you in better physical condition.

If your feet are giving you problems and you want to start exercising, consult your podiatrist, this might be the program for you.