What Do You Wear on Your Feet?

The following is a guest post written by Katie Bigelow, a Z Health Master Practitioner(p), RKC and student at Emory University majoring in Neuroscience. Next time you are in the market for athletic shoes, reference this article for some smart choices!

"As most athletes who first meet Delaine and I at Condition Kettlebell Gym have noticed, we wear some pretty funky shoes – that is if we are actually wearing shoes. Well, here is the information you’ve all been asking us for about shoes.

First, we must start with the basics. In today’s age, shoes are a materialistic accessory that more often than not matches the color of clothing. Thousands of years ago, before the invention of air conditioning, cars, and the light bulb Neanderthals walked the earth BAREFOOT. And so should you! The Neanderthal barefoot approach is significant, because this is actually the most efficient and healthy method of walking and movement for your body. Anatomically, there are 26 bones in the foot and ALL of them should be mobile. When taking a step, the force from the ground starts at the heel and is distributed throughout the rest of the foot and body. If one of the bones in the foot doesn’t move efficiently or is jammed, the force from the ground is altered and the distribution throughout the rest of the body changes. What does this change in force mean for you? Put simply, changes in joint and postural alignment and PAIN! The pain can occur in the knees, hips, and/or lower back, etc.

So, you can’t walk the streets barefoot and you don’t want immobile and painful joints. Here are some shoe suggestions that will help minimize pain and postural changes and facilitate healthy and mobile joints:

Nike Free
Puma Alsten
Converse – Chuck Taylor’s
Puma Speedcats
Vibram Five Fingers
Adidas Samba
New Balance 790s
Adidas Chiba
Reebok Driving Shoes

These are all athletic shoes that are great options for athletic performance, everyday activities, and even work! If you don’t have any of these shoes in your closet, you should check your current shoes to see if they fit the profile. An easy test is to pick up one shoe and bend the sole. If the sole doesn’t bend with ease, or only in the toe area, you should strongly consider purchasing any of the shoes listed above. Basic things to look for are flat shoes with a flexible sole throughout the entire length of the shoe, which will allow for all the bones and joints in your feet to move freely and efficiently. Also, if you’re puzzled about where to look or all the shoe stores you’ve checked don’t carry the above shoes, trying some of the following websites:

www.nike.com
www.ebay.com
www.zappos.com
www.eastbay.com
www.vibramfivefingers.com

With a fresh pair of flat and mobile shoes you are well on your way to better performance with a more efficient and mobile body!"

Keep moving,

Katie Bigelow
RKC Instructor
Z Health Level 4 & 9-S Movement Coach

Z-Health is Amazing

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Sorry there haven't been any videos posted this week. I have been a little out of it for the last 3 days due to a stomach bug. When you add that to being 5 1/2 months pregnant, being a fun mom and trying to train, it really takes you down for the count. So needless to say, today will be a short post.

In my down time, I am preparing for the Z Health R-Phase Certification by studying up on some great anatomy books: Trail Guide to the Body: How to Locate Muscles, Bones, and More (3rd Edition) and Anatomy of Movement (Revised Edition). Both of these are fascinating (if you are into this kind of thing). They have really helped me understand what is actually going on under the skin.

If you have not ever checked into Z Health, I highly suggest you do. The R-Phase Mobility Series, along with kettlebells, have freed me from constant back and joint pain. The focus of R-Phase is Rehabilitation, Re-Education and Restoration of coordination, agility and movement efficiency. Basically you are trying to "re-introduce your brain to your body" to reduce injury, maximize strength, improve range of motion and excel in athletic performance. There are a number of follow along dvd's that you can get to do at home.

If you are really looking to improve your health and movement beyond just looking good, I cannot think of a better way to do it. Take 10-15 minutes every day or even every other day and go through the series on the Neural Warm-up dvd. Your body will thank you and your performance will skyrocket!

Call 910.231.5011 or email shawn@headstrongathletics.com for more information on our group kettlebell classes and personal training.