FOOTBEDS: A LITTLE BIT OF SOLE WILL PUT YOU RIGHT
We tend to look down on our feet. Face it; they stink. Most of them just ain't that pretty to look at. And if they're not causing us trouble, we just shove them inside some old socks and walk all over them.
But our feet are our foundation. And just like the foundation of a building, a road, or a bridge, if the base ain't stable, the stuff on top is going to suffer.
That's why it's important to cradle and support your feet, especially in rough environments like job sites and factories. Your boots are the interface between you and the ground, and a good pair of insoles are the interface between your feet and your boots.
Ironically, your feet are kind of like your hands, except that they are, well, on your feet (no chimpanzee jokes here). Each foot has 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments, according to anatomy web-sites. Since an adult skeleton only has a total of 206 bones (depending upon which sports you play) your feet have over one-quarter of the bones in your body! No wonder why podiatrists drive such nice cars!
FOOT BONE’S CONNECTED TO THE LEG BONE…
And let's not forget the chiropractors!. Turns out that treating your feet badly can add up to more than foot pain. Athlete's foot, blisters, and corns are just the start, 'cause the muscles and tendons connected to your dogs run all the way up your legs, and the bones stack up to your back like building blocks. If the feet are out of whack, your ankles, knees, and vertebrae may let you know.
It's all interrelated. That's why a foot massage can cure a headache and a stubbed toe can make you limp like a side-kick in an old Western. F.R.E.D. doesn't recommend that you stick long needles in your own feet, but he does suggest giving them a little attention now and then.
Take a look at your feet (use a mirror if you can't bend over that far). Notice how the sides of your heels are rounded? See the curves near the arches and pads under the balls on each foot? Now look at your work boots: open up the laces, shake out the sand and pebbles, and peer down at the sole. Chances are it doesn't look like the bottom of your feet.
OPTIMIZE YOUR FOOTWEAR
Most work boots are just not built like running shoes. That's why factory workers stand on rubber anti-fatigue mats, or sheets of corrugated cardboard, or anything that is more cushioned than concrete. That's why your dog would rather walk on the grass than the sidewalk (although, if your dog is wearing work boots, that's probably a topic for a separate F.R.E.D. column).
Good insoles provide padding, stability, and support. They absorb shock when you walk, fight fatigue when you stand, and conform to your feet in ways that your boots never will. A new pair of insoles every few months is a cheap way to keep your feet off of your mind.