Comments on: Can Exercise Strengthen Your Feet, Arches, and Toes? http://www.americaspodiatrist.com/2010/01/can-exercise-strengthen-your-feet-arches-and-toes/ Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:22:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Dr. Nirenberg http://www.americaspodiatrist.com/2010/01/can-exercise-strengthen-your-feet-arches-and-toes/comment-page-1/#comment-293 Dr. Nirenberg Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:42:38 +0000 http://www.americaspodiatrist.com/?p=1368#comment-293 Hi Jim, I am glad you are strengthening your feet through barefoot activity. I have not read Chi Running, however, when it comes to barefoot activity, it is often better to start by strengthening your feet on softer surfaces. In general, surfaces that are softer and more pliable are safer. Some people consider gravel softer than concrete, which it is, but sharp stones could injure your foot. If you want to go on gravel, I would wear a minimalist shoe. I have not tried going barefoot on gravel, but I suspect it would offer an uneven surface, and mildly uneven surfaces (like hilly backyards) tend to help our foot muscles develop better. Perhaps, this effect is what Chi Running is trying to achieve. You could go on a trail or grass and possibly get a similiar effect without risking a sharp stone injury. I hope this helps. Hi Jim, I am glad you are strengthening your feet through barefoot activity. I have not read Chi Running, however, when it comes to barefoot activity, it is often better to start by strengthening your feet on softer surfaces. In general, surfaces that are softer and more pliable are safer.

Some people consider gravel softer than concrete, which it is, but sharp stones could injure your foot. If you want to go on gravel, I would wear a minimalist shoe.

I have not tried going barefoot on gravel, but I suspect it would offer an uneven surface, and mildly uneven surfaces (like hilly backyards) tend to help our foot muscles develop better. Perhaps, this effect is what Chi Running is trying to achieve. You could go on a trail or grass and possibly get a similiar effect without risking a sharp stone injury. I hope this helps.

]]> By: jim http://www.americaspodiatrist.com/2010/01/can-exercise-strengthen-your-feet-arches-and-toes/comment-page-1/#comment-292 jim Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:15:11 +0000 http://www.americaspodiatrist.com/?p=1368#comment-292 hi Dr. Nirenberg, i'm a 51 year old male and a lifetime runner (since i was 24). last feb. i developed what i now know is a severe case of plantar fasciitis. i went to the podiatrist and tried orthotics, special shoes, steroid shots, night splints (although i had to stop because these made my legs go numb) rolling on frozen soda bottles, etc. it's been a year and my PF is still as bad as ever. i read "born to run" and was all excited about the possibility that being barefoot would strengthen my feet and may not only that but actually heal my PF. it did make my feet much stronger but the PF is still hanging on. i ended up on this site because i was searching in google for "coarse gravel". another book, "the chi of running" suggests that spending 10 or 15 minutes a day walking on coarse gravel would help heal the PF and my question is... have you ever heard of this? and if you have, what exactly is coarse gravel specifically? i have no idea how coarse or where i might find a surface to walk on. thanks for any attention you give these questions. jim hi Dr. Nirenberg,
i’m a 51 year old male and a lifetime runner (since i was 24). last feb. i developed what i now know is a severe case of plantar fasciitis. i went to the podiatrist and tried orthotics, special shoes, steroid shots, night splints (although i had to stop because these made my legs go numb) rolling on frozen soda bottles, etc. it’s been a year and my PF is still as bad as ever. i read “born to run” and was all excited about the possibility that being barefoot would strengthen my feet and may not only that but actually heal my PF. it did make my feet much stronger but the PF is still hanging on. i ended up on this site because i was searching in google for “coarse gravel”. another book, “the chi of running” suggests that spending 10 or 15 minutes a day walking on coarse gravel would help heal the PF and my question is… have you ever heard of this? and if you have, what exactly is coarse gravel specifically? i have no idea how coarse or where i might find a surface to walk on. thanks for any attention you give these questions.
jim

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