[pct-l] My feet a killing me!

[Melanie Clarke]

Dear Dan and PCT,

The best book you could invest in is *8 Steps to a Pain Free Back* by Esther
Gokhale.  She also teaches you how to walk, sit move correctly.  Google her
name and I think you can access some U-Tube videos to get the main ideas but
the book has a lot of pictures and is really informative.  When you work
your body correctly, you can increase your performance in anything you do.
Work with mother nature, not against her!

Melanie

On Wed, Dec 1, 2010 at 7:56 AM, Dan Kronstadt <subs at kronhead.com> wrote:

> Melanie - sounds like some great recommendations. I have been dealing
> with intermittent back and foot problems, and I know my posture is bad.
>
> Who should we look for to help with the things you describe - posture,
> gait, exercises to help with this, etc? Physical therapist? Sports
> medicine doc? A Kinesiologist? Not sure there are a lot of listings for
> them in the yellow pages!
>
> Dan
>
> On 12/1/2010 5:47 AM, Melanie Clarke wrote:
> > Dear Whimpie,
> >
> > That was a great article on *Morton's Neuroma*, Kathi!  Repetitive stress
> > (think backpacking a million steps a week) among other things,
> exacerbates
> > the condition.  You also stated,  *I can force the pain to move to the
> other
> > foot by slightly shifting my weight   *
> >
> > Okay, I think if you also put more of your impact on the heel of your
> foot
> > with every step it would also minimize the repetitive stress in the balls
> of
> > your feet.  Americans have back problems as we all slouch now a days.
>  The
> > body can function well with amazing feats of physical performance but we
> > don't stand, walk correctly any more.  If we don't use our bodies the way
> 3
> > million years of evolution designed us then we have problems.  Do you
> > slouch?  This would push your center of gravity forward so the balls of
> your
> > feet are bearing the weight of your body to keep you from tipping over.
>  The
> > heel of your foot, the Calcaneus, is thick and designed to bear the
> weight
> > of your body.  Also the Tibia, the leg bone directly above is one of the
> > densest bones in your body.  The muscles supporting these structures, are
> > also the finest so you need to use these.  Only your tongue is more
> powerful
> > than the gastrocnemius (Reinhold, shut up, some jokes just write
> themselves,
> > I don't need you!).  You are making a weaker structure (the Metatarsals)
> do
> > the work of the strongest functional apparatus in your body.  No wonder
> > there will be problems.
> >
> > Stand up straight!  (Yes mom)  Put your shoulders back!  Your shoulders
> and
> > upper back should create a flat line, not rounded!!!!!  Your pelvis
> should
> > not be tilted too far forward, nor too far backwards.  Work with it until
> > you feel the weight of your body concentrate over the heels of your feet.
> > Walking should be a fluid motion centered over the weight bearing bones
> and
> > muscles.  The balls of your feet function mostly for the push off (from
> > behind) when the weight is now over the other foot in your walking gait.
>  If
> > you lean forward, with the weight of your backpack, lean over from the
> hip
> > and keep the upper back flat.  Allow your derriere to round out when
> leaning
> > forward, it's a little hard to explain.  I don't have a lot of time this
> > morning.
> >
> > Try standing up straight and put more of the weight on your heels.  With
> a
> > heavy backpack (even 20lbs.) lean from the hip, not rounded back.  AND do
> > see the doctor, he can give you more advice but an orthotic will only
> enable
> > you to walk and stand incorrectly for a longer time.  If you use your
> body
> > the way nature intended, it will greatly reduce the problem.
> >
> > Melanie
> > Kinesiology, UCLA '84
> >
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