Strengthening our feet

Submitted by mamp on March 25, 2012 - 7:41pm
Body: 

I was reading Christine's book and at page 17 she talks about the importance of the arches in the feet (noting that many people in the developed world exhibit flat arches, angled knees and an unlevel sacral base)

I have found wearing Vibram Five Fingers (the "toe" shoes) very helpful for my own flat feet. (REI is a good source for these shoes, esp. if you want to try them on before you buy) I also switched my socks to wearing toe socks (there are several on-line vendors, I have been very pleased with Sock Dreams)

I consider both my Vibrams and toe socks to be my non-surgical treatment for my bunions and also an easy way to strengthen weak arches.

Maybe this might be helpful for others.

Monica

Forum:

louiseds

March 26, 2012 - 4:09am

I think this is why I rarely wear shoes that keep my toes trapped together. I am a great fan of flip flops/jandles/thongs and bare feet, whatever you call them. I figure that wearing closed shoes while walking is a bit like trying to knit while wearing mittens. God gave me toes for a reason, and I am going to use them to the best of my ability when walking.

I am so glad you find Vibrams comfortable and helpful.

L

Surviving60

March 26, 2012 - 8:15am

Agree - I am a flip-flop wearer too, because I don't like my toes compressed into anything. I've been warned against wearing them for long periods because they are pretty much lacking in any kind of arch support. So....kind of a mixed blessing I guess. I think I must have good arches but hate to think that I might be compromising that.

This is one of the reasons that I like to do those deep, wide plies in WW posture where you come up high on your toes while in plie position. Not only do they make my pelvic organs feel great, but my feet too. In order to get up high and strongly on my toes, I still have to hold onto something ever so lightly. I'm working to improve my balance but in the meantime, I'd rather do the foot thing full out. - S60

ang411

March 26, 2012 - 12:39pm

Thanks! Great to know!

CurlyWhirlyAmy

March 26, 2012 - 12:48pm

I have those shoes and they are amazing!

They keep your toes from being lazy inside your shoe. I have always have had flat, wide feet and my toe next to my pinky toe has always been curved in and out of shape. I've had these shoes for less than a week and I am already seeing my toes go straighter, and more definition in my legs. When you wear flats that don't require you to flex your ankle, you stop using your calves and just shuffle along. This requires that I move my ankle and not just my hip joint when I walk. I moved this weekend into a new place, and I am blissfully sore. I was reminded of muscles I didn't know that I had thanks to these shoes. Plus, barefoot is just about as natural of a posture you can get!

Pssst- Christine has these shoes too. She wears them when she goes on runs. I think that counts as WW approval. (and the Vibram stocks go up...)

mamp

March 26, 2012 - 7:45pm

Louise and Surviving 60 - -thanks for the comments. Maybe you gals should try Vibrams -- I do think they are a notch above flip flops -- your toes stay covered (and clean) and also get exercised as you wear them.

Amy --glad to hear you like your Vibrams and I am not surprised Christine wears them too. I am waiting for them to make these shoes so that I can wear them in business settings - as my 10 year old niece suggested, maybe they could make a style that looks like a normal shoe on the outside and have the toe dividers on the inside (I thought that was pretty creative thinking:)

louiseds

March 26, 2012 - 10:40pm

I think it is time that business suit skirts swept the floor again. Then we could wear what we darned well like as footwear, and sit with our legs akimbo.

I was at Parliament House yesterday addressing some Members of Parliament as part of a committee I am on in another life. I wore a full length black skirt, power red undies, a red t-shirt, bright, tasteful scarf and my 'going out' flip flops', because I wanted to look respectable with very tatty-looking strapping on my injured left ankle (and it was too hot for thick tights). It worked a treat!

wholewomanUK

March 27, 2012 - 4:34am

Hi everyone,
Thanks for the tips. I'd never heard of vibrams or dream socks. Shame the vibrams I saw didn't look a little more normal though! However health above normality. Normal is far from healthy sometimes.
xwholewomanuk

louiseds

March 27, 2012 - 11:19am

Comfortable is the new beautiful

Surviving60

March 27, 2012 - 11:35am

I keep trying to imagine each of my toes (even the itty-bitty one!!) encased in its own separate little glove-like compartment. It seems claustrophobic somehow! Or OK for cold weather, but too "close" for a walk in the hot months. However, I have no doubt that you actual wearers are telling the truth about the comfort.

CurlyWhirlyAmy

March 27, 2012 - 12:27pm

Surviving60,

I find that my feet sweat less in these shoes than in my tennis shoes. The material is thinner, and some models even have mesh to let your feet breathe even more. (Finally we can talk about mesh on the forum in a way that doesn't say "STAAAAY AWAAAAY" ;)) I hate even wearing socks, so I thought that these shoes would be claustrophobic for me, but instead it's the same comfort as when someone holds your hand in the best way- fingers all intertwined. Awwww I am having a romance with my feet.... wait... that's not what I meant...

51 more sleeps until the conference! You can all see my webbed feet there.

Sequoia18

March 27, 2012 - 12:34pm

has anyone seen softstar shoes? much like moccasins, handmade, natural materials...I ordered some for my two year old and hope to have some for me for my birthday this fall

mamp

March 27, 2012 - 8:53pm

Wholewoman UK,

You are right that the Vibrams can be a bit funky looking -- however, each style usually has one conservative color with the contrasting colors pretty toned down.

Also, if anyone wants to try the toe experience on the cheap, buy a pair of toe socks and see how you like them. They will definitely increase your propioception (trying to sound anatomical here:)

Monica

louiseds

April 2, 2012 - 5:58am

I think anything that gives back to our toes their role in spreading and balancing us, while protecting our toes from injury, is worth trying.

mamp

April 18, 2012 - 11:53am

I just found out that Vibrams had issued a very nice basic leather five fingers shoe a few years back under the name Performa. There are still a few vendors online who have this shoe left in a small size, European 36 or 37. I was able to get a pair in my size and it is really comfortable to wear (and would be great for Mommy ballet, bellydance, at your desk wear, etc. The shoe comes in solid colors (purple, red, or black) so no funky color combinations either. Pls note that the sole on this shoe is an indoor sole so it would not wear well outside unless you were on a smooth concrete surface. If you google "Vibram Five Fingers Performa" you can see the shoe and the online vendors.

Monica