Happy Feet, Happy People

(NewsUSA) – Feet were made for walking, and that’s just what they do -; in their lifetime, the average person will walk enough miles to equal three laps around the world.But can feet survive the trip?The human foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 120 muscles, ligaments and joints. Still, feet are small compared to the rest of the body, and must support body weight plus walking force.Chic stilettos and rough-and-tumble cowboy boots, while stylish, put the wrong pressure in the wrong places. No wonder 75 percent of Americans experience foot pain, most of it from poorly-fitting or unnaturally shaped shoes.Foot conditions like bunions, enlarged joints on big toes, hammertoes, bent toes caused by muscle weakness, and toe-and-heel pain keep people from enjoying physical activities and wearing sandals, but it’s not anything that people need to live with.People with chronic foot pain should see their doctors -; foot pain needs treatment.People stuck on the style-over-comfort footwear philosophy need to make some changes. Extra weight puts extra pressure on feet and increases people’s risk for heel pain and plantar fasciitis, inflammation in the sole of the foot. Regular exercise and a healthy diet keep foot muscles strong.Some products help people exercise and relax their feet. YogaToes (www.yogatoesinfo.com) correctly realign, stretch and exercise feet. YogaToes are soft, flexible, scentless and hypo-allergenic. They can help feet recover from long days spent in improper shoes.”People with aching feet will appreciate the relaxing effect YogaToes offers,” wrote two happy users. “We used YogaToes for two weeks and found that they do help relax tense and sore feet.”But Americans still need to embrace comfortable footwear. Arch support, heel cushioning and wide toe boxes can help prevent or relieve pain from bunions, corns, hammertoes, tendon injuries and toe fungus.Many celebrities and designers now create and sell comfortable, fashion-forward footwear. Through foot exercise, like that provided by YogaToes, and sensible shoe choices, Americans can both avoid foot pain and keep their toes looking summer-sandal good.