You use your feet everyday so it is vital that you take good care of them and take the necessary steps for them to remain healthy and happy. Here you will find some useful information and tips on the benefits of walking, why it is good for you and how to properly care for your feet.

The Facts & Figures:

  • The average person walks about 7500 steps a day.
  • That works out to about 216,262,500 steps by the time your eighty years old.
  • In an average lifetime you walk about 110,000 miles, which is the equivalent of walking around the Earth five times.
  • Most humans walk at an average speed of 3.1 miles per hour.

Your feet are for life and looking at the facts and figures above it is amazing to see the about of steps you take in one lifetime, which all adds up to a lot of impact, stress and strain on your feet. However our bodies were designed for moving, so walking is good exercise. Walking helps the muscles and ligaments in our feet to work more efficiently, and helps keep them supple and flexible.

The Benefits of Walking:

Walking is good for you and if done for regular exercise it can help condition your body and improve overall cardiovascular health the same way running and jogging. However unlike running or jogging, walking carries a significantly lower risk of injury. Walking requires little equipment can be done almost anywhere and is entirely free.

If you walk an extra 20 minutes a day, you'll burn off more than 3kg of body fat a year, which can help in reducing risk of conditions such as coronary heart disease and help cut down cholesterol. Walking can also help to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.

A single step uses up to 200 muscles, so you're not only doing a little bit of cardio, but toning your muscles too and walking is easy on your joints. It can also help improve circulation in your feet by stimulating the development of tiny new blood vessels.

Looking After Your Feet:

It is important to listen to your feet as they will often tell you that there is a problem by way of showing pain or discomfort. When this occurs it is important to consult your doctor or podiatrist before embarking on any new walking expeditions, as they can help relieve pain, treat infections and skin, nail, soft tissue and connective tissue problems.

Perhaps the most common foot pain is plantar fasciitis (heel pain). Plantar fasciitis occurs when the thick band of tissue on the bottom of the foot, which under the arch of the foot, is overstretched or overused. This can be painful and make walking and activities more difficult. Plantar fasciitis is Latin for “inflammation of the plantar fascia”. This common foot complaint causes pain in the heel and is often associated with heel spurs. More information about this can be found in our useful guide by clicking here.

Orthotics are another good way of looking after your feet as they help restore natural foot function, allowing joints and muscles to function more efficiently.  In turn, this will help prevent future injuries and relieve painful conditions such as over-pronation, one of the main causes of plantar fasciitis. They also help cushion the feet which will prevent blisters from forming on the heel of the foot.