You do not need a referral to become a patient at our foot clinic. Schedule an appointment by using the Appointment Request form below or contact the clinic at
416-769-FEET(3338)
info@feetfirstclinic.com
New Year’s resolutions can be an excellent way to determine what goals we want to achieve over the next year. After setting those goals, the next step is usually figuring out how to make those dreams a reality. It takes diligence and effort, but it’s also essential to make sure your milestones don’t seem too impractical.
One ever-so-common New Year’s resolution is to get into shape and become more physically active. Many people have become more sedentary due to working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, countless people struggle with foot conditions and other barriers that may make physical activity seem intimidating or impossible. With images of super athletic, perfectly toned bodies littering fitness sites all over the internet, it can sometimes feel like people who are naturally athletic hold a monopoly over physical fitness, and people with disabilities, chronic pain and health issues are to look elsewhere.
Luckily, this isn’t the case. There are in fact many steps you can take towards becoming more active – even with foot pain or mobility issues.
Feet First is here to let beginners and people with all kinds of health concerns know that a healthy, active lifestyle is possible for anyone – regardless of your physical condition or limitations. Fitness doesn’t have to mean going to the gym everyday, losing weight or getting a Pelaton bike – it comes in many shapes and forms, and can be adapted and modified to suit your body and medical needs.
To start your new year off the right way and help you reach your health goals, we have some simple tips to improve your lifestyle and keep your feet (and the rest of your body) feeling happy and healthy.
Who says that being physically active can’t also be fun? Taking part in a new hobby that gets your heart pumping and your feet moving doesn’t have to be a chore. You can also mix it up and enjoy a combination of your fave activities. This helps you not drag your feet and dread your workouts! Here are a few ideas:
Regardless of if you want to start going to the gym or exercising from home, you’ll need to be smart and set realistic expectations for yourself. Beginners can often overwhelm themselves quickly with unattainable goals and end up giving up before they even get started.
Sometimes, the best way to achieve your New Year’s resolutions is to break them up into several attainable resolutions. This helps your goals not seem so overwhelming that you let your resolution fizzle out before February hits!
Here are some ways you can avoid falling into that trap:
A good foot care regimen is crucial for fitness beginners learning the ropes.
Naturally, you have to make sure you’re wearing shoes that fit snugly and offer arch support, cushioning, enough room and breathability.
Critical factors like stimulating blood flow, moisturizing and exfoliating are also important if you have any foot conditions.
It’s also important to make sure you regularly change your socks and watch how much your feet are sweating while you work out. Neglecting moisture build-up can lead to issues like athlete’s foot and fungal infections.
For more detailed info, you can check out the following Feet First Clinic articles on how to maintain foot care:
While you establish your new fitness routine, you should also set aside 5-10 minutes a day to do some stretches – and that includes the feet! Stretching your feet comes with a wide range of benefits, including improved flexibility, muscle tone, blood circulation and pain management . To optimize the benefits of stretching, try doing so before and (most importantly) after your workouts.
Neglecting to stretch after exercise can cause your muscles to tense up too quickly after working out and lead to stiffness and potentially injury. Foot stretches are also a good idea for people struggling with pre-existing foot pain.
Low-impact strengthening exercises can also work wonders for your feet, help enhance your workout performance and improve your range of motion. Strengthening exercises can also help with muscle soreness and reduce your chances of injuring yourself. According to Healthline, “strength exercises will allow your muscles to provide better support and protection for your foot as a whole.” This is super important for people with physical health concerns, like chronic pain and arthritis.
Now, when we talk about strengthening exercises, we don’t mean pumping iron at the gym – quite the opposite! Good fundamental strengthening exercises should require minimal effort and are often rehabilitation focused. Physiotherapists often prescribe these exercises for people with mobility concerns; you can even do them when you’re sitting on the couch watching TV!
For the best results, you should do strengthening exercises around 5-10 minutes, three times a week to start (you can do them at the same time as your foot stretches). Fitness beginners with chronic pain and arthritis (i.e.: rheumatoid arthritis, gout and osteoarthritis) should pay particular attention to strengthening exercises. This is because strengthening the muscles connected to the feet, ankles, and knees can help slow joint degeneration and reduce strain.
To learn some foot stretches and strengthening exercises, check out our Pinterest board! It’s full of simple routines that both help people with foot conditions and serve as excellent warm-ups.
Sometimes, we want to embrace an active lifestyle, but chronic foot or ankle pain can be an obstacle. That’s where seeing a licensed foot specialist can help. Chiropodists can treat many painful foot conditions and set the groundwork to help their patients ease into an active routine. The following are just a few ways chiropodists can help people with mobility problems start exercising:
Be sure to check our blog regularly for our January posts! We’re aiming to make this month all about you and your fitness goals – while never forgetting the importance of foot health. No one should ever have the mindset that they can’t be more active: Feet First Clinic is here to guide you with accessible, adaptable and non-intimidating ways to help you meet your fitness goals. With the help of today’s tips, what’s coming in January, and our trusted chiropodists, we’re confident your New Year’s resolutions will become a reality!
Call us at 416-769-3338 or Book Your Assessment Today! And be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook for ongoing tips and tricks you can use to improve your health and well-being.