Good Ways To Exercise & Care For Your Most Neglected Body Part

By Dorene Internicola NEW YORK, March 30 (Reuters) - Feet are a part of the anatomy many exercisers ignore while pounding the treadmill or honing a headstand, but fitness experts say they are the very foundation of physical well-being. A quarter of the body's bones are contained in the feet and ankles. It is where most movement begins and, much like a building's foundation, it determines stability. "The feet are perhaps the most neglected complex structure in the body," said Katy Bowman, biomechanist and the author of "Whole Body Barefoot: Transitioning Well to Minimal Footwear." Bowman, founder and director of the Restorative Exercise Institute near Seattle, Washington, said when feet are strengthened it decreases whole body imbalance or instability. Almost eight in 10 adult Americans have experienced a foot problem, according to a 2014 survey by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). The poll also showed that one in four adults was unable to exercise because of foot pain. Dr. Howard Osterman, an APMA spokesman, said most foot injuries are due to overuse, or trying to do too much with limited support. "We don't need the toes to have the dexterity of fingers but we do need some dexterity," he said. "We need the muscles to have strength." As a podiatric consultant to the Washington Wizards professional basketball team, Osterman r...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - Category: Science Source Type: news