[pct-l] My feet a killing me!

[Melanie Clarke]

Dear Whimpie,

That was a great article on *Morton's Neuroma*, Kathi!  Repetitive stress
(think backpacking a million steps a week) among other things, exacerbates
the condition.  You also stated,  *I can force the pain to move to the other
foot by slightly shifting my weight   *

Okay, I think if you also put more of your impact on the heel of your foot
with every step it would also minimize the repetitive stress in the balls of
your feet.  Americans have back problems as we all slouch now a days.  The
body can function well with amazing feats of physical performance but we
don't stand, walk correctly any more.  If we don't use our bodies the way 3
million years of evolution designed us then we have problems.  Do you
slouch?  This would push your center of gravity forward so the balls of your
feet are bearing the weight of your body to keep you from tipping over.  The
heel of your foot, the Calcaneus, is thick and designed to bear the weight
of your body.  Also the Tibia, the leg bone directly above is one of the
densest bones in your body.  The muscles supporting these structures, are
also the finest so you need to use these.  Only your tongue is more powerful
than the gastrocnemius (Reinhold, shut up, some jokes just write themselves,
I don't need you!).  You are making a weaker structure (the Metatarsals) do
the work of the strongest functional apparatus in your body.  No wonder
there will be problems.

Stand up straight!  (Yes mom)  Put your shoulders back!  Your shoulders and
upper back should create a flat line, not rounded!!!!!  Your pelvis should
not be tilted too far forward, nor too far backwards.  Work with it until
you feel the weight of your body concentrate over the heels of your feet.
Walking should be a fluid motion centered over the weight bearing bones and
muscles.  The balls of your feet function mostly for the push off (from
behind) when the weight is now over the other foot in your walking gait.  If
you lean forward, with the weight of your backpack, lean over from the hip
and keep the upper back flat.  Allow your derriere to round out when leaning
forward, it's a little hard to explain.  I don't have a lot of time this
morning.

Try standing up straight and put more of the weight on your heels.  With a
heavy backpack (even 20lbs.) lean from the hip, not rounded back.  AND do
see the doctor, he can give you more advice but an orthotic will only enable
you to walk and stand incorrectly for a longer time.  If you use your body
the way nature intended, it will greatly reduce the problem.

Melanie
Kinesiology, UCLA '84

On Tue, Nov 30, 2010 at 9:04 PM, Ken and Wanda Brimmer
<kbrimmer at cccomm.net>wrote:

> I need some advice concerning my feet.  For the past two years I have
> suffered (emphasis added) from a sharp pain in the balls of my feet, just
> behind my second and third toes.  The pain can be very intense (think hot
> poker) but never happens to both feet at once.  It is most likely to occur
> when I'm ascending a mountain.  I can force the pain to move to the other
> foot by slightly shifting my weight and I make frequent stops to wriggle my
> toes front and aft, which will give immediate relief for the next mile or
> two.  The pain   comes and goes during the day, with no known pattern.  I am
> prone to Plantar Fasciitis so wear a rigid orthotic.  I am getting old but
> would really like to hike without so much discomfort. Am I looking at a
> double amputation, here?
>
> Any ideas or suggestion would be received with unlimited joy!
>
> Whimpie
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