Foot pain is a very common experience most of the people have experienced at some time in lives. Most foot pains are caused by wearing shoes those do not fit properly or forcing the feet to fit into awkward shapes. Why do foot pains occur? The foot is made up of 26 bones and 33 joints interwoven with more than 120 nerves, ligaments, and muscles and it serves as weight supporter, shock absorber, propeller for leg forward movements, and balance maintainer for the body to keep in balance on uneven surfaces. Since the foot is very small in contrast to the rest of the body, each step exert a great force on it. Since the force exerted is greater than the individual’s body weight, and an individual makes about thousands of steps per day, the combined total force exerted on the feet are several hundred tons, which is indeed a tremendous force. Weight-bearing activities like gardening are very common and are due to lack of proper warm-up exercises or footwear unsuitable for the environment.

Many gardeners are those who are prone to experience foot pain this season due to overlooking the needs and importance of their feet; foot pain generally occurs in three places: the toes, the hind foot, and the forefoot. However there is no need to be too much concerned about the foot pain because a few minutes of preparation and a good common sense can keep the gardeners comfortable all season long.

“Gardening is an exessive weight-bearing activity and should be considered a sport rather than a passive hobby,” said Dr. Paul R. Kasdan, a board-certified podiatrist and medical director for OurHealthNetwork.com. “As with any sport, one should make sure to wear appropriate foot gear, and to properly stretch before engaging in the activity. To always be pain-free, the feet must be encased in the proper shoes and socks. If the shoes do not provide proper support and cushioning, then the feet lose efficiency and problems eventually occur.”

Dr. Kasdan has given an advices and recommendations for shoe and sock and type of exercises necessary to prevent foot pain. If you have concerns or need counseling regarding foot pain, OurHealthNetwork.com’s team of medical specialists will walk you along every questions you may have.

Exercises recommended by Dr. Kasdan can be reached at the Gardening section and other treatments and advices can also be found at OurHealthNetwork.com

By: Kaung