In the west, in the 21st century, these two statements are pretty well incontestable: folks are increasingly pre-occupied with exercise and our nervous systems are overstimulated. In a separate post this month, we talked about managing pain when you have debilitating foot problems; in this post, however, we’re going to look at ways to treat your feet (and body) well when you are living a highly active lifestyle.
Active people who are on the go – especially ambitious professionals – have a hard time taking a night to themselves to slow down. Between weight training, cross fit, yoga, Pilates and competitive sports, there’s always an opportunity to become stronger, more attractive, more fit. The truth is, however, that when we fail to take a night in once in a while to slow down and let the body heal, the nervous system gets worn out and we aren’t as sharp or balanced as we might be – we’re actually working against ourselves.
Within your weekly exercise routine, there are a number of things you can do to help calm the nervous system – yin yoga, meditation, stretching and massage are all excellent options. Additionally, if you’re interested in faster recovery times and better blood circulation, make an appointment today to discuss the benefits of compression stockings. None of this, however, can replace the benefit of a night in with a hot bath, beeswax candles and your foam roller – just add your favourite ambient playlist and switch your phone to silent.
Not only will this night of recovery help you calm your nerves and settle your mind, but it will also give you a chance do some light stretching and bodywork so that when you head back to the gym, you can hit it full force.
As we’re fond of pointing out here on the blog, the legs and feet are workhorses of the body that are often neglected. Foam rolling the IT band, hamstrings and quadriceps and stretching the hip flexors is extremely common, but the legs don’t end at the knees. Make sure your calves, ankles and feet feel the love too. If you live in the GTA and need advice for stretching and caring for the feet, remember, we are your downtown Toronto podiatrist and can always provide knowledge and assistance.
Here are some tips for soothing the feet and body:
Rolling Out the Calves – Using a lacrosse ball or foam roller to relieve tension in your calves will make your legs feel a thousand times better. When the legs really open up from the feet through the hips, it’s a massive relief.
Stretching the Ankles – Lying on the ground with your legs at a right angle on the bed, flex your feet for ten seconds, then extend them by pointing your toes for ten seconds. Repeat this for ten minutes and you will calm right down. Your feet and ankles are attached to the ganglia nervous system and this movement has a calming effect.
Check the blog regularly to learn about good running technique, how diabetes affects your feet health and why most foot conditions are nothing to stress about. Call today to talk to an expert!