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Health & Fitness

One Foot in Front of the Other

Foot health for running.

"I just felt like running." ~Forrest Gump

Feet come in all different shapes and sizes, and can be prone to injury and problems, especially if running is involved.  The following are essential functions of the foot:

  • The feet play an important role in balance and support.
  • They play the role of shock absorber when the foot hits the ground.
  • They move you forward.

Physical therapists can play a very important role when suffering from a running injury, or to analyze your feet/running technique before you start running to prevent injury. PT's can determine if there is a problem with how your foot is built. Feet can be "flat" (low arches) or "rigid" (high arches).  Both can cause pain/problems during running. It is important that you are fitted with the proper sneakers to accommodate your feet.

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In order to reduce the risk of running-related pain, you want to incorporate the following advice from the American Physical Therapy Association (www.moveforwardpt.com):

  • start slowly and increase your speed and distance in small increments
  • address pain/discomfort as soon as it appears; don't ignore problems
  • choose your running surface carefully (hard surface, uneven terrain, hills)
  • keep an eye out for skin issues such as blisters
  • consider alternate endurance activities to allow your feet rest days

How can a physical therapist help? Physical therapists can provide a detailed exam of your foot, body structure and overall alignment to determine where a problem may be occurring.  They can make recommendations for proper sneakers and training techniques. Most importantly they can help you recover from an injury and prevent further/future injuries.

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Contact MSI Physical Therapy at (973)635-2800 or (908)245-5566 to speak with a therapist and/or to schedule an appointment.

 

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