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Sedentary Lifestyle, Diet and Foot
We all have been pretty nonchalant about our feet. What possibly can happen to them? You have been sleeping well, cleaning them every day, and generally taking care of them. All steps are done correctly until one day, you have your feet on the floor and experience throbbing and excruciating pain, almost preventing you from walking at all.
In your argument, you can say you have been home all day; you don’t even involve your leg and feet with heavy athletic exercises such as running or jumping and neither do you wear heels. If all these obvious possibilities are ruled out, your immediate hunch would be to assume the pain must have occurred due to some severe ailment such as blood clots, broken bones or sprains, calf issue or fracture. But when are you for once going to focus on your unhealthy and sedentary lifestyle and poor diet?
Did you know? Zero to minimal physical activity and being overweight is directly proportionate to your legs, feet and ankles as they bear the brunt of the excessive weight of your body.
Yes, nutrition and physical activity play a significant role in shaping your overall physical well-being, including your legs and feet. Being homebound and sitting all day can have positive and negative impacts. Loss of walking and stretching gives rise to muscle stiffness, reduces bone density, makes our bones prone to fractures, and increases weight.
In fact, a routine activity for at least 30 minutes a day, being watchful of what you consume and restraining yourself from consuming processed sugar, trans-fat, alcohol and refined grains, could save you from multiple chronic diseases such as bad circulation, swelling, inflammation, gout and diabetes.
Feet Issues Related to Poor Lifestyle
It may sound astounding, but an inactive person may face similar or worse foot diseases and ailments equivalent to what an athlete may encounter, such as:
- Plantar Fasciitis: Of course, at home, you feel you are in a protected environment and are least bothered or worried about any ailment catching you by sitting at home. But walking barefoot and not watching your calories can surely give you Plantar Fasciitis. This condition transpires when the plantar fascia (a thick band of tissue) that runs across the bottom of each foot connects the heel bone to the toes. It is partially stretched or torn, leading to excessive inflammation. This condition can be caused by excessive exertion, idleness, or a sudden gain in weight. In fact, walking barefoot on hard tiles also contributes to this issue. It is a common problem which causes a stabbing pain in the bottom of your foot after the first few steps in the morning or after prolonged periods of standing or sitting.
- Swelling: When your legs are not used regularly, your feet and ankles can develop oedema, which is the trapping of excessive fluids in the body. The lymphatic system is responsible for flushing out the extra fluid, but inactivity makes it harder to remove and do the work. This adds additional stress causing fluid to remain in the ankles and feet. It also puts unnecessary strain on the kidneys, which are responsible for eliminating the fluid returned by the lymphatic system. A regular exercise regime can save you from swollen feet. Not just inactivity but consuming fresh leafy vegetables, fruits, and berries also reduces swelling of the feet.
- Muscle Weakness: Do you often experience chronic aches, pain, stiffness and muscle weakness? If yes, you might be a sufferer of obesity and inactivity, directly impacting your feet. Not just pain, but you will also lose muscle strength in your feet, ankles and legs and develop a more significant risk of getting injured. The unbearable pain will persuade you to be more inactive. Still, before you fall bait, consuming non-inflammatory and healthy food and joining a health activity program is highly advisable.
- Poor Blood Circulation: Let us put it simply, sitting for 10 minutes can affect your blood circulation. Can you imagine the impact your body might be facing when you sit for 8 hours straight? Being inactive puts your body’s circulatory system at risk by denying it a fresh supply of oxygen and nutrients. Also, diabetic neuropathy is characterised by poor blood condition that leads to severe nerve damage and loss of sensation in the feet.
- Blood Clots: Sitting for long hours on your desk develops the risk of deep vein thrombosis, which is blood clotting. These blood clots are formed because of poor circulation and can make their way into the other essential organs of your body, such as the heart, brain and lungs.
Barefeet Podiatry For Your Feet Ailments
Well, now that you are aware and have a sound knowledge of how gravely a few mistakes in lifestyle and meals can impact your feet, it is about time to take action towards eliminating all of these severe diseases. With Dr Louise Buchtmann’s impressive 15 years of experience treating children and adult feet issues, you are in safe hands at Barefeet Podiatry in North Sydney.
With her qualified expertise and skills, all your concerns will be taken care of with ease, and in no time, you will experience a normal and pain-free life. If you want relief from pain, schedule an appointment today by calling (02) 91582403 to receive expert medical assistance, easy and manageable exercises and stretches to aid and simplify your rehab journey.