Don’t let sore feet hold you back - join the #SoleisticHealth revolution

No foot is too small to leave an imprint on the world, and in turn will bring you to where your heart is. After all, one step can make all the difference...

As a metaphor, no other body part has received as much recognition as the ‘foot’. In literature, it’s symbolic nature is timeless. And rightly so. From the day we take our first step to the day we die, our feet carry us through our life’s milestones. Our feet give us autonomy, self-reliance and, ultimately, they empower us in life to choose the paths we walk and the adventures we lead.

[caption id="attachment_23816" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]Healthy feet, happy Dad... just saying[/caption]

 

When your feet hurt or bother you, it can affect your whole body and you can’t fully engage ( drscholls.ca ). Dr. Scholl’s has coined a name for this connection - Soleistic Health.

What’s the connection between feet, our health, mind and body?

When Dr. Scholl’s invited me to review a few of the Active Series™ Replacement Insoles I had to smile. I’ve been a user of Dr. Scholl’s products for over 10 years and often recommend them to my tribe.

As someone always on the lookout for products that help support healthy, active lifestyles, I was excited to learn that Dr. Scholl’s ‘Soleistic Health’ philosophy drives their research and development. From my experience, When my feet hurt, I’m just not myself!

[caption id="attachment_23809" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]Remove, cut to size and insert. Easy as 1-2-3![/caption]

Unhappy Feet, Unhealthy Body

The modern practice of reflexology is based on the observations of an American physician, Dr. William Fitzgerald, in the late 1800s. He found he could relieve pain in the body by applying pressure to the feet. ( Chicago Tribune ) In addition, Kunz and Kunz (2008) reviewed 168 research articles about reflexology, and suggest that the practice has obvious benefits.

No matter what you believe about reflexology, one thing is clear: a proactive approach to overall health is important . And thankfully, there are products like Dr. Scholl’s Massaging Gel Stimulating Step and Active Series insoles which can make this easy for all of us to practice.

What happens to our feet as we age and what can we do about it?

The average person takes about 10,000 steps each and every day, which adds up to more than an astounding 3 million steps per year. Each step can place 2 to 3 times of body weight force on the feet. ( Dr. Scholl’s.ca )

The foot is a complex structure. It has 26 small bones (¼ of the bones in the human body), 33 joints and a system of more than 100 tendons, muscles, nerves and ligaments working together in concert. Over time, this extensive recurring impact and stress from everyday use leads to a certain amount of normal changes as we age. These changes include:

• The foot becomes wider and longer


• There is flattening of the foot, a mild settling of the arch


• The fat pad on the bottom of the heel becomes thinner, causing loss of natural padding and bounce in the step


• The foot and ankle become stiffer by losing some of their normal range of motion


• There can be some loss of balance while walking, potentially leading to a fall ( Dr. Scholl’s.ca )

Who and WHY should we wear Active Series insoles?

If you are like me or those in my tribe, you lead a healthy, active lifestyle. You’re hiking, running, jogging, climbing, chasing kids and living life to the max each day. Moving with purpose is your lifestyle. The last thing we need to worry about is pain induced by shin splints, runner's knee and plantar fasciitis during your hectic lifestyle and athletic activities.

Taking a proactive approach to foot health and having a preventative maintenance strategy for your feet is key to reducing the likelihood of unhappy, unhealthy feet.

How do Dr. Scholl’s Active Series Insoles help me?

During athletic activities, the foot is subject to the shock impact of 2-3 times your bodyweight ( Dr. Scholl’s.ca ). Fortunately, Dr. Scholl’s® Active Series™ Replacement Insoles reduces shock by 40% and helps to prevent pain from shin splints, runner's knee and plantar fasciitis.



The active series insoles are designed for athletes and active lifestylers alike. They include a triple zone for full foot protection:

1. The padding at the ball of foot improves cushioning and helps distribute pressure throughout push-off at the ball of foot.


2. The arch is reinforced to support the foot and its unique design improves the transition of weight from landing to push-off around the arch area.


3. The deep heel cup absorbs impact with every step and is very responsive.


4. The insole also has a 3D weave topcloth with DryMAX™ technology to help eliminate odour.

The Strategy for Healthy, Happy Feet

If our eyes are the window to our souls, then our feet are the doorway to our health. When your feet hurt or bother you, it can affect your whole body, preventing you from fully engaging in life. This sense of being held back and missing out detracts from the awesomeness that is life.

Quality of life is everything today and no matter your age or level of fitness, you can’t argue against the health benefits which walking provides. Walking contributes to general health by improving circulation, contributing to weight maintenance and promotes all-around well-being (Foot.com). If your feet hurt and you can’t walk without discomfort or pain, then you need to do something about it now not tomorrow...

[tweet_box inject="#SoleisticHealth" design="box_9"]It’s not the years in the life that matter; rather the life in the years that do[/tweet_box]

I’m not here to tell you to do anything you don’t want to do, but I feel confident that by implementing a ‘soleistic health’ strategy, your feet will smile and thank me for it.

[divider style="dashed" top="30" bottom="30"]

This post is sponsored by Dr. Scholl's. The opinions and views are wholly my own...

And to be absolutely clear, this is my disclaimer: “Just so you know, I have been compensated to share my ideas on this topic. Sometimes it is in the form of products, or services or even money… But here’s the thing; I won’t  share anything with you that I don’t fully support. It doesn't matter what it is, or how much they are willing to give me, if I don’t believe in it, It won’t be on my site. Seriously. You’ll just have to trust me on this.”   ~ Coach Moose

[divider style="dashed" top="20" bottom="20"]

Cited sources: Kunz, B. & Kunz, K. (2008). Evidence-Based Reflexology for Health Professionals and Researchers: The Reflexology Research Series.