Your feet take a lot of beating from your day to day activities so it also applies with exercise. Most kinds of workouts will put a lot of strain and pressure on your feet as they are meant to carry most of your weight. The additional movements make things more strenuous for your feet.
If you have a foot condition like plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, Achilles tendonitis, bunions, or ingrown toenails among other things, working out might prove to be a challenge. However, it shouldn’t stop you from getting a good deal of exercise. There are effective ways to keep your foot condition from getting in the way of your fitness.
What exactly are these, you ask? Here are a few tricks that can help you out:
Wear shoes that fit you well and are suitable for your condition.
If you have a foot problem, the first thing you should focus on is in finding the right footwear for you. Lots of foot issues are exacerbated and even caused by ill-fitting shoes, so you have to look for something that fits you well instead.
Not a lot of people realize that a pair of shoes that fit you well and are comfortable to wear can go a long way. Most folks are fine with settling with something that slightly feels off or a bit tight thinking that their comfort doesn’t matter. On most occasions, however, it’s not just about the comfort. Your shoes can also affect the structure and performance of your feet so you shouldn’t settle for anything less than the perfect fit.
This is extra true if you have a foot problem. Since you already have something wrong with your feet, you should take better care of it by not squeezing into something too tight or let them swim in something too wide or loose. You can get more injured and your condition can worsen by doing so.
Always go for something that fits perfectly and with ample support. Be particular about the details. If you have high arches, look for something that can give your arches ample support. If you have plantar fasciitis, look for something properly cushioned.
These tips also apply to regular shoes, not just your athletic shoes. If you’re already suffering from a foot problem, it’s crucial that you always wear something that suits the needs of your feet.
Choose the right exercise.
Certain workouts are better suited for certain conditions so you just really need to pick the right ones to be in better shape without hurting your feet. Luckily, there are tons of exercises that are not too hard on the feet so you’re not out of options if you wish to get in better shape.
Some of the best exercises you can try out are the following:
- Swimming won’t even require you to be on your feet but can still give you a good whole-body workout.
- Rowing engages various muscle groups without needing you to move on your feet.
- Stationary cycling will get your blood pumping without putting a lot of strain on your feet.
- Battle ropes will require you to stand in place so it’s not as strenuous on the feet as other kinds of workouts.
- Yoga is primarily focused on stretching various muscles of the body so it won’t be too hard on your feet. It would be best to learn from the pros first, however, before trying the workout on your own at home. Places like YogaWorks and Snap Fitness have highly-trained yoga instructors that can walk you through the basics of this relaxing workout.
- Pilates is a bodyweight training workout that won’t strain your feet but will give you a good workout.
Address your condition.
Addressing your ailment is another way that will help you exercise without worrying too much about your condition. If you’re on top of managing conditions like bunions, corns, and ingrown nails, you’ll have more options for your workouts. Taking other steps to address and manage the pain brought by plantar fasciitis, achilles tendonitis, and heel spurs among others will also allow you to keep them from preventing you from enjoying various kinds of physical activities.
Learn the exercises that can help relieve the pain caused by your condition.
If you’re suffering from a foot ailment, it’s also best to learn the exercises that you can do to relieve the pain caused by the said issues. There are several stretches that you can do to alleviate the pain you experience from your foot condition so they can come in handy when you’re experiencing flare ups.
These exercises won’t require a lot of effort, so don’t fret. They’re not strenuous on their own but they can help you deal with pain right away.
Exercising with a foot issue may seem daunting but it shouldn’t stop you from working out. As this list suggests, there are ways to get around the problem and still stay fit, so don’t fret.