Natalie Gold is a Certified Reflexologist living on Salt Spring Island, Canada, a mother of three adult children and an avid rambler.
I have been studying how the body works for pretty much my whole life. I have been a Certified Reflexologist for over 30 years, including 15 years as the Instructor of Reflexology for the Vancouver School of Bodywork and Massage.
I have built courses, in person and online, for beginner bodyworkers and seasoned professionals alike, as well as creating the first online course for the Vancouver Career College (VCC).
I have built courses, in person and online, for beginner bodyworkers and seasoned professionals alike, as well as creating the first online course for the Vancouver Career College (VCC).
What happens when we walk a lot, but our foundation (feet) is not square? Possible side effects include foot pain, calluses, bunions, knee pain, pelvic misalignment, pelvic floor dysfunction, back pain, shoulder pain, neck issues, jaw pain and headaches, just to name a few.
The excellent book Born to Run, Christopher McDougall stipulates that our feet are perfectly engineered to do the lifelong task of moving our body around. He goes on to prove throughout the book that the main cause of injuries is due to the high tech and often-costly footwear that is so relentlessly marketed to us.
Combined with unnatural surfaces and a sedentary lifestyle, we are offered a range of solutions that are merely band-aids without addressing the underlying issues. Initial generations of shoes were offering what runners needed and no more: a little protection from rough ground and cold weather.
However, problems arise when protection turns into correction, and marketing takes over for education. This does not even include high heels and other fashion styled shoes that are designed for looks while ignoring the true needs and full range of motion of our body.
Combined with unnatural surfaces and a sedentary lifestyle, we are offered a range of solutions that are merely band-aids without addressing the underlying issues. Initial generations of shoes were offering what runners needed and no more: a little protection from rough ground and cold weather.
However, problems arise when protection turns into correction, and marketing takes over for education. This does not even include high heels and other fashion styled shoes that are designed for looks while ignoring the true needs and full range of motion of our body.
As a reflexologist who has seen thousands of feet, I can say with confidence that most people wear ill-fitting shoes, lacking in an adequate toe box, which inhibits full expressions and range of all the toes. Otherwise, running (or walking) gently will trump your choice of footwear.
Regarding orthotics, any support that gets your foot OUT of pain (like a metatarsal pad) is a good thing. It is better to use an orthotic and move than be out of commission and in pain. I see orthotics like a cast: if your arm breaks, you need immobilize your arm to stabilize it while the bone mends.
However, once it heals, it becomes necessary to retrain your arm and reinforce your muscle memory. After a certain number of weeks, it becomes redundant, and potentially harmful to ignore using your full range of motion again. Our feet work the same way.
However, once it heals, it becomes necessary to retrain your arm and reinforce your muscle memory. After a certain number of weeks, it becomes redundant, and potentially harmful to ignore using your full range of motion again. Our feet work the same way.
Controlled Articulate Rotations (CARS), are joint circles. These exercises should be done carefully and systematically with technical tweaks. It is an active joint movement, which means you are using your brain and muscles to make the largest possible rotation. Ultimately, you maximize the range of motion of each joint that you work on, so it may function at its fullest expression.
A vital part of CARs for feet is practicing barefoot walking. When rebuilding our feet, we cannot always go from where we are to barefoot. If you consider your foot health like a staircase, you cannot move between floors without climbing up step by step. CARs are a great way to build stronger feet, as well as a range of exercises for specific corrections.
Going barefoot can;
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Strengthen and stretch the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the feet and lower legs
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Strengthen small muscles in the feet that communicate with larger leg and core muscles to stabilize the body
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Enhance proprioception, the body’s unconscious perception of movement and spatial orientation
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Load the joints less than walking with shoes, and may help prevent osteoarthritis
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Restore natural gait
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Improve balance
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Prevent common foot and ankle injuries, such as shin splints, plantar fasciitis, stress fractures, bursitis, and tendonitis in the Achilles’ tendon
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Help children develop healthy feet and arches
A vital part of aging and movement, as you all so generously share here, is the ability to move widely and unimpeded. Keeping our feet healthy will enable us to do this as long as possible.
My hope is that you find some use in this and that it enhances your rambling abilities in midlife and beyond!
READ MORE > Her Story, Rambler Cafe Blog
My hope is that you find some use in this and that it enhances your rambling abilities in midlife and beyond!
READ MORE > Her Story, Rambler Cafe Blog
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