Benefits of Stretching vs not Stretching your feet
Incorporating stretching in your daily routine has many benefits to your overall health. And your feet are no exception. As long as you are mobile, your feet, ankles, and legs are constantly working to get you from one place to another all while supporting your body weight. If you’re an athlete or your job requires you to be on your feet for most of the day, the stresses acting on them can increase significant amounts, sometimes even up to ten-fold.
Here are 5 reasons why you should stretch your feet daily.
Improves Range of Motion
With age, the joints in our feet and ankles tend to become stiffer. Whether this is exacerbated by poor foot mechanics or tights muscles, stretching is a great way to keep the joints mobile. Joints that can move along its full range of motion rather than become limited allow for proper heel to toe gait.
Improves Flexibility
Stretching allows the muscle to lengthen and becomes more flexible. This keeps your joints mobile and allows for ease with dynamic movements. It also allows your foot to properly adapt to the ground and absorb shock.
Helps to Keep Feet and Ankles Strong
Stretches such as toe curls, toe splays, toe extensions, and toe points are great ways to activate and strengthen the small muscles in the foot that don’t otherwise get too much attention. Keeping the muscles strong will also reduce the stress placed on joints, which is especially important for those who suffer from arthritic conditions.
Helps to Prevent Injury
Injuries to the foot and ankle often occur when the muscles, tendons, and ligaments are too tight. For instance, having tight calf muscles or tight plantar fascia can increase your risk of developing conditions such as Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis. Stretching these structures will help to reduce strain and tension when they are overworked or overused.
Encourages Blood Flow
Lastly, stretching your feet and ankles helps the blood to circulate to those areas, delivering oxygen and nutrients the muscles need. Stretches should be steady and held for around 30 seconds. If stretching a muscle causes pain, stop the stretch and rest. You don’t want to overwork your muscles and cause further damage.
Seeking a Medical Professional’s Opinion?
If you have ongoing foot or ankle pain that doesn’t improve, seek medical attention from a foot care specialist. Chiropodists are licensed professionals who are trained to assess and manage the diseases and disorders of the lower limb and foot.
Call 416-796-3338 or Click to Book an Appointment Today!