With his step-counting pedometer, 69-year-old Jim Palmquist tracks his daily steps in a log book. He will often favor a hike over his Toyota Highlander if he has a chance to walk the distance. “I’m really convinced that walking is one of the best things you can do for your health,” said Palmquist. “Walking is wonderful.” According to the American Heart Association, walking for 30 minutes daily can help reduce the risk of heart disease, improve blood pressure and reduce the risk of osteoporosis, breast and colon cancer and type 2 diabetes.
Exercising the feet and ankles regularly is a great way to prevent injuries. If you have any foot or ankle concerns, contact Dr. Jeff Wachtel, D.P.M., of Wachtel Family Foot Care. Dr. Wachtel will treat your foot and ankle needs.
Exercise for Your Feet
Exercise for your feet can help you to gain strength, mobility and flexibility in your feet. They say that strengthening your feet can be just as rewarding as strengthening another part of the body. Your feet are very important and often we forget about them in our daily tasks. But it is because of our feet that are we able to get going and do what we need to. For those of us fortunate not to have any foot problems, it is an important gesture to take care of them to ensure its good health in the long run.
Some foot health exercises can include ankle pumps, tip-toeing, toe rise, lifting off the floor doing reps and sets, also flexing the toes and involving the shins may help too. It is best to speak with your doctor regarding how to do these fitness steps and how often is right for you. Everyone’s needs and bodies are different and it varies from individual to individual to determine what should be done for you to maintain strength in your feet.
Once you get into a routine of doing regular exercise, you may notice a difference in your feet and how strong they may become.
If you have any questions, please contact our office located in Lansdale, PA. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot ankle injuries.
Read more about exercising your feet.
