Western medicine sees this as an infection and antibiotics are usually prescribed.  In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is an imbalance of the yang energy impacting the spleen and/or bladder organs. The term we use is damp heat in the Lower Jiao or Lower Burner. This simply means that the body has a kind of turbid moisture combined with heat residing in the lower part of the body preventing the urine from flowing properly.

By clearing this damp heat the problem will disappear.

Dampness is said to be like chewing gum on the bottom of your shoe, it’s a bugger to get rid of. It kind of just sticks there. We can experience damp cold or damp heat, the latter being the cause of the cystitis. Dampness usually starts off as cold and then after sitting there for a while it will heat up like a compost pile until the problem presents itself as damp heat.

The organ that is most responsible for dampness is the spleen. The spleen is the partner of the stomach and makes up the rotting and ripening process of the digestive system. When the food enters the stomach, the stomach distributes the lesser pure substances to the small intestine for further processing and the pure nutrient rich substances onto the spleen. The spleen which needs warmth continues breaking down the nutrients even further by transforming it into blood and refined fluids to be absorbed by the body as nourishment – the spleen is our friend. If the spleen is weak, cold, run down and not functioning properly fluid and food does not distribute properly and just sits and turns into the dampness I referred to earlier. The dampness then seeps to the lower part of the body (like the bladder) where it will combine with heat, and you then experience such conditions as cystitis.

If your spleen isn’t strong a simple way to strength it is have drink some ginger tea regularly or include it in your diet. If you already have cystitis, a simple way to relieve the pain is to make up a batch of corn tea. Boil up several whole corn cobs, husk and all for 30 minutes, strain and drink it frequently throughout the day. A few doses of acupuncture and properly prescribed herbs also work wonders.  The nasty thing with cystitis is that if the dampness is not treated, it will continue to linger (even after a course of antibiotics) and often the problem will recur, turning it into a pesky chronic condition.

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When the individual faces this loss, some of the most powerful internal mechanisms of behavior will be activated in order to maintain and reinstate the relationship; these behaviors have been described as: emotional responses, physical sensations, altered cognitions and behaviors.

Grief is fundamentally an emotional response to loss, which can be expressed with sadness, sorrow, fatigue, depression, shock, anger, guilt and anxiety; crying is a normal response as well as talking about the experience. Other responses may seem abnormal or dysfunctional like laughter, or celebratory responses, also lack of crying can be present, all these responses have been considered as natural and protective of the individual and measured as a sign of resilience.

Intense feelings of loneliness and isolation may become so overwhelming that the individual may avoid social contact, thus isolating themselves from support.

Anger is another common emotion experienced by grieving people; this anger can be directed to the deceased or may be as a result of frustration because of the impotence to prevent death. Anger has to be addressed in order to avoid complications such as aggressiveness directed towards either others or themselves as a result of blames.

Physical symptoms are also common and they can be manifested as tight feelings in the throat and chest, oversensitivity to noise, breathlessness, muscular weakness, and lack of energy.

New thought patterns can occur in the early stages; however, if maladaptive thoughts are persistent, they can trigger feelings that lead to depression or/and anxiety. The initial reaction is usually disbelief to the news of a death, especially if it was sudden. This reaction is often transitory, but it can persist and at some stage become denial. Feelings of confusion, difficulty organizing thoughts and preoccupations are also common; the individual sometimes may report a sense of presence of the deceased and may think that they are still around.  Some auditory and visual hallucinations can also be some of the manifestations.

Some of the other manifestations that can be of concern for the individual include disturbances in sleep, altered appetite, absent mindedness, social withdrawal and dreams of the deceased. The individual could also feel restless, breathless and crying.

The trajectories of grief

Many factors will contribute with the intensity and response to loss, they include mainly, the importance attributed to the loss, the circumstances of the death and the availability of support groups. The intensity and length will depend on the nature of the relationship, and the degree of connection.

According to Bonanno, there are four trajectories:

1. Resilience which is the positive capacity of the people to cope with stress and adversity.
2. Recovery when normal functioning temporarily gives way to threshold or sub-threshold psychopathology, usually for a period of at least several months and then gradually returns to pre-event levels.
3. Chronic dysfunction which is defined as a failure to follow the predictable course of normal grieving to resolution. When the process deviates from the norm, the individual becomes overwhelmed and resorts to maladapting coping.
4. Delayed grief or trauma when adjustment seems normal but then distress and symptoms increase months later.

Homeopathic remedies for grief

According to the homeopathic model, emotional symptoms are of vital importance; therefore when we prescribe a homeopathic remedy we have to individualize the patient and his emotional and physical symptoms. Unresolved emotional issues, such as grief, can get suppressed in the body and later on cause some physical symptoms that will be manifested according to the intensity of the suppressed emotion. Serious problems arising from deep grief can be easily addressed with homeopathy, but you will always need a professional practitioner in order to get the right prescription, not just in terms of the right medication, but also in terms of the right dose and repetitions.

There are many homeopathic remedies that can be used effectively to treat patients suffering from grief according to the individuality of the symptoms of every case in particular.

Ignatia amara: We should think about this medication when the grief is recent, the patient will be highly weepy, emotional and oversensitive with some hysterical reactions as well. Changeable mood; introspective; silently brooding. Melancholic, sad and tearful. The patient is not communicative, sighing and sobbing are very evident symptoms for this medication to be prescribed.

It is one of the chief remedies for hysteria. especially adapted to the nervous temperament, sensitive, easily excited nature.  Great contradictions (eg. laugh when should be crying). Alert, nervous, apprenhensive, rigid, trembling patients who suffer acutely in mind or body.

Natrum muriaticum: this remedy can be considered the chronic for Ignatia, always try this medication if Ignatia does not act or fails to hold. the patient is tearful and emotional, but the grief is less open and the patient will prefer to cry alone in the privacy of their own room. Sometimes the patient cannot cry at all. Consolation may make things worse. Ill effects of grief, fright, anger. Depessed, particularly in chronic diseases. Irritable, tears with laughter. Ailments after grief with silent grief .

Aurum metallicum: Mental states of great depression. Hopeless, despondent and great desire to commit suicide. Every opportunity is sought for self-destruction. Palpitations and congestions. Feeling of self-condemnation and utter worthlessness. Profound despondency, with increased blood pressure, with thorough disgust of life, and thoughts of suicide. Talks of committing suicide. great fera of death. Peevish and vehement at least contradiction. Anthropophobia. Mental derangements. Constant rapid questioning without waiting for reply. Cannot do things fast enough. Oversensitiveness to noise, excitement and confusion.

Pulsatilla nigricans: The disposition and mental state are the chief guiding symptoms to the selection of Pulsatilla. It is preminently a female remedy, especially for mild, gentle, yielding disposition. Sad, crying readily; weeps when talking; changeable mood, contradictory disposition. Weeps easily. Timid, irresolute. Fears in evening to be alone, dark, ghost. Likes sympathy. Children like fuss and caresses. Easily discouraged. Morbid dread of the opposite sex. Religious melancholy. Given to extremes of pleasure and pain. Highly emotional.

At the site of your wrist, is the ‘carpal tunnel’. This is a hollow area grooved by the tiny bones that form your wrist. Inside this tunnel, run numerous tendons of muscles that allow you to type, make a fist, close your fingers, hold a shopping bag, open a bottle etc. Amongst and outnumbered by the vast majority of these tendons is a nerve, namely the median nerve that assists such functions.

When you have been typing for hours and have been using a computer frequently throughout your career it is likely you have felt some sort of strain around your hands, wrist or elbow (and commonly your neck). These symptoms may fall under the same category of treatment for repetitive straining injury (RSI) of the wrist or Carpal tunnel Syndrome – whether it be of a short term or more serious long term chronic injury. Either way, the sooner you address it, the better.

In the nature of carpal tunnel syndrome, the tendons of your muscles become severely inflamed as a result of chronic, repetitive activity with short periods of rest and little or no attention to repair. When this happens, they consume most or all of the space that exists inside the tunnel at your wrist. This consequently obstructs the pathway of your median nerve and so the nervous supply becomes severely limited or inhibited all together. This can cause numbness, tingling, reduced ability to hold something, type, turn, grapple an object etc. If you continue to work through this, the damage becomes worse and can cause your muscles to fatigue even more (placing more damage on your nervous tissue).

Any inability to perform a task with your hands can be heightened by the posture of your neck and shoulders. It is common amongst computer operators to present with increased stress in these areas because of the position your body assumes in front of the computer. If the muscles in your neck and shoulders become tense, they can also obstruct the path of your nerves and blood supply to your arms and hands, heightening the problem – from a distant location.

To help reduce your symptoms and ideally correct and overcome your injury you will need to re-assess the ergonomics of your work-station. This is popular for many companies but if this isn’t the case for you, I recommend you ask your boss or OHS representative. This can make a massive difference in your recovery and prevention of injury.

Try to make sure your work environment is free of clutter, has appropriate ventilation and lighting and isn’t too hot or cold. Making sure these are correct can decrease your stress and muscle tension, making you feel much better.

To directly address your Carpal tunnel syndrome or any related symptoms massage therapy can sooth the muscles in your arm, minimising the severity of inflammation that is blocking your nerve. Massage therapy will also push any stagnant blood that has been trapped in the tight and stiff muscles and make way for fresh blood which in turn delivers oxygen and nutrients – necessary for the recovery of your muscles, tendons and the maintenance and prevention of a secondary injury. Posture awareness is also a benefit of receiving massage – helping your neck and overall spinal position.

Along with your massage treatment, specific stretches can be given to you that will help your recovery while you are at home. It is important to stretch because this is a big preventative measure and teaches you how to look after yourself while you are at work.

If you or someone you know needs help with carpal tunnel syndrome and would like a massage and help with some stretches send me an email: ricky@backonyourfeet.com.au or call 02 92 333 800. I will work close with you to get the results you need. It’s not worth the stress to continue pushing through your pain. I’ve seen too many cases where people put work before their own health. Don’t fall into this category!

So, what else comes with cold weather? runny noses, sore throats, aching muscles and lots of shivers!

Our bodies are warm blooded, so for the warmer seasons, that’s great, but when autumn and winter settle in our bodies need to work harder to keep our body systems regulated. To do this, we need to generate more energy to meet higher demands. One reason it’s important to be eating the right foods this time of year!

One of the more important systems around this time is our immune system and its important role in keeping us on our game. Consequently from the colder weather and winter chills our body functions slowly and takes longer to move things around.  That’s right, when you catch a cold, it takes more than one day to get rid of it. For some of my clients… Two weeks can do the job.

Circulation is important now and blood is rich in nutrient, oxygen and water. Blood is transferred all around the body and our muscles are on high demand for this most important substance. It provides our muscles with the source required to produce the force we need to perform our daily activities. What would we do if we didn’t have the energy needed to get up out of bed?

So what happens when circulation to our muscles is reduced? When our muscles are depleted of blood and its important properties their ability to contract and produce a force is limited and at worst inhibited. Consequently our level of strength is reduced and we wouldn’t be able to work at the same intensity as before and also for the duration in time.  How much easier is it to warm up for sport in summer or spring compared to Winter?

Your muscles rely on good circulation to grow, repair and function. There are 3 types of muscle tissue in the body:

1. Skeletal muscle – For movement (and several other roles below)
2. Cardiac muscle – found in the heart
3. Smooth muscle – found in the digestive system to move food along.

In the scope of massage, we directly treat the musculoskeletal system. Additionally, we stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system and this allows for your body to enhance its ‘self-healing’ process. This is commonly known as the ‘rest and digest’ system. We all know not to run around straight after we eat a meal.
It’s important to know that our musculoskeletal system has several functions:

Locomotion, Dynamic and static postural support, Thermoregulation, support of our skeletal structure, assisting in shock absorption, producing force, resisting force, directional change, protection of vital organs, respiration, muscle tone.

The musculoskeletal system, with all of these functions has a vital role in maintaining our well-being. Amongst the postural and movement benefits, the importance in supporting our immune system should always be considered.  Movement, moves things around and that is one (important) way to eliminate unwanted and foreign substances from our body, keeping our system a continuous flow which allows us to grow and adapt to changing environments.

Particularly now, is when I see more muscular tension than I do any other time of the year. Mainly, because of the body’s attempt to keep warmth ‘in’ and coldness ‘out’. You may have also experienced muscular aches and pain when you have caught a cold. This is not uncommon when you are ill. Massage is an ideal way to help prevent and also enhance your body’s ability to deal with these symptoms.
The benefits of massage are beyond improved movement, but also improved immune functioning and more importantly a sound mind. However, amongst healthy movement is a healthy diet and the two complement each other. In my practise to relieve tension I encourage people to eat more green leafy vegetables as they are rich in magnesium – great for relieving muscular tension and assisting in your circulation. For those who aren’t keen on vegies, magnesium supplementation is a safe alternative, which is available in my clinic.

Give yourself the time you need, stay warm and eat well, sleep well, play well and work well.

If you need a massage (you deserve one) book in to see me at Back on your feet in Sydney cbd . To make an appointment please call (02) 9233-3800.

The common symptom one may feel with pain or discomfort in these two areas is an aching, burning or shooting pain down the outside of your thigh and across your knee. Some people also report a feeling of something pulling on the kneecap. This may occur anytime during the day and can also persist throughout your activity. If you have been sitting down during a movie or in front of the TV for a long time, you may find discomfort in your knee or the outside of your thigh as you begin to rise out of your seat.

These symptoms can suggest a tight Iliotibial band (ITB). The ITB is a part of the Myofascial system in our body. This system is the web that holds everything in our body together so we can move efficiently and freely. It exists within and around all the soft tissues in our body from head to toe and keeps them supported so they virtually don’t fall out of place. Without fascia, we would crumble to the ground.

The ITB is the fascia that exists along the outside of your thigh, sealing all the muscles in this area securely. When you are in a healthy state, the ITB permits smooth movement in your thigh and hips so you can carry on pain free. When it becomes tight – as it would with any unaccustomed, prolonged or incorrect movement – the fascia thickens and shortens – thus inhibiting healthy movement in this area (and producing any of the above symptoms mentioned earlier). As the fascia around this area thickens it reduces the amount of blood and oxygen which would normally flow here and consequently deprive the muscle of the nutrition it needs to move, grow and repair. This will result in a nutrient deficient muscle and then the cycle begins. It will become more tense and tighter until something is done to reverse the cycle. Your muscle may begin to spasm (involuntarily contract) continuously until it becomes fatigued. This is a protective mechanism and also occurs when stress is placed upon the body. Another term that you may have heard of is ‘Trigger point’. This is a local tenderness along a tight/taut band of muscle that results from a lack of blood flow and oxygen to the area.

If there is stress in the body (or mind) your nervous system is on ‘over-drive’ and can stimulate the muscle spasms which can lead to the trigger points.

So there are three (there are more!) measures that can be taken to address the discomfort you are feeling in your hips and knees. Massage and stretching are a great and proven way to promote health in your muscles and fascia allowing ease of movement amongst many more benefits. The third is relaxation. This can be achieved with the above two and thus promoting a holistic approach which is always the better approach.

Massage will release the tension in the fascia and muscle. This will encourage circulation of blood (nutrients and oxygen) to flow efficiently through your muscles and allow them to move, grow and repair to the best of their ability. Massage also promotes warmth in your body – we are warm blooded beings – and with massage we can enhance our body’s natural healing ability.

Stretching your muscles promotes flexibility and elasticity which also allows for efficient circulation and movement. It is important to stretch for these two reasons, especially for healthy movement in your hip and knee areas. These are weight bearing joints and if you experience any tension or discomfort around these areas – chances are you’re not moving to your potential!

Relaxation will clear your mind and reduce any nervous tension.

Less nervous tension = Less muscle spasm = Less pain.

In my clinic I offer massage treatments and also teach stretching – a great way to unwind. If you need help for your hips or knees and would like to make an appointment call 02 92 333 800 and ask for Ricky. You can also email me at ricky@backonyourfeet.com.au

But what happens when you aren’t feeling good? Our bodies are masters at storing memory and these memories allow us to learn and grow as we continue through life’s journey.

In times of stress, we tend to adapt and overcome, which allows us to carry on. A lot of this adaptation can be a result of our state of mind before, during and after this stress.

If your state of mind is unbalanced and you have thoughts constantly coming and going, not allowing for any free-time inside your head, you may very well be stirring a recipe for muscle or nervous tension, aches and pains in your body.

One of the commonest symptoms in times of busyness, stress or any increase in activity is a sore neck or sore shoulders.  Sound familiar? You may be asking yourself, what have I done to cause this? Yes you may have moved improperly or lifted too much at a time however, if you were not concentrating or if you were anxious, nervous or even fearful, this would probably have been the cause for your muscle soreness and not the movement.

When any amount or type of stress exists in our mind, messages are sent from our brain to our muscles. Changes taking place in the path from our brain to our muscles involve chemicals being released in our body to allow our muscles to contract. If your mind is crowded and you find yourself always doing something, are anxious or nervous (to name a few), your muscles may always be firing and even though you are not moving, tightness and tension will still be present. Until you address your mind, your muscles will remain like this.

It is important to give yourself free time to relax and recover. This will allow a steady relationship between your mind and body.  Massage therapy has proven well to address emotional well-being and thus benefiting your physical state of health.  If you are in need for some time to let go of your thoughts and would like a massage treatment call 02 92333 800 and ask for Ricky. You can also email me at ricky@backonyourfeet.com.au

In the scope of massage one of the commonest causes that I come across, for tension or pain felt in the lower back region is due to muscular imbalance, postural dysfunction and/or incorrect movement. This can be accompanied with pain from muscle, neuromuscular and/or joint structures.

Our spine is connected to our hip at the sacrum, making the sacroiliac joint.  To allow for smooth and efficient movement through this joint, muscles responsible for flexion, extension and rotation (all movements in the spine and hips) to any degree need to be balanced in their ability to lengthen and shorten simultaneously.

To control these movements a group of muscles known as the ‘core’ muscles exist. Their role in preventing injury and allowing for smooth, optimal movement in our trunk and our limbs is vital.

Underactivity or inhibition of this muscle group can reposition your hips to sit improperly and can lead to any of the symptoms you may be feeling in your low back region, especially if it becomes an on-going change.

The two important core muscles (there are more) that provide the fundamental structure you need to move efficiently, optimally and to help prevent injury and pain are your transverse abdominis muscle (not your six pack) and your pelvic floor muscle group.

In my clinical experience most people have ‘heard’ about the core, but aren’t exactly sure of how to ‘switch it on’.

Massage therapy will address your low back pain by assessing your posture to find out the associated muscles linked to your symptoms.  An important consideration in treating your low back pain is your flexibility. If you aren’t a frequent stretcher this can overload your muscles ability to help you carry out your daily activity. By also observing your technique in specific activities you do throughout the week I can give you useful tips on how to improve your movement.

If it’s been a while since you have had massage and you are suffering from low back pain give me a call before it becomes a chronic condition. I may be able to give you some exercises as well.  Please phone 02 92333800 and ask for Ricky.

Ah… Energy, if we use too much we get tired. But if we don’t use it, we still get tired! How to find the balance?!

I’m sure you’re probably already settled into your routine of doing things, but what I’m here to tell you today is why technology is taking away your ability to use your energy and why this might be the article to help you understand what’s happening in your body so you can prevent yourself from feeling those first stages of fatigue.

So to get a better picture of what I’m talking about I’m borrowing technology’s favourite, the computer!

In actual fact, it is very draining on your mind and your body (as you may know) to be at a computer or laptop for several hours a day. When we consider your musculoskeletal and nervous system, prolonged usage of a using a computer can place an unnecessary load on your spine, particularly your neck, increasing the risk of an injury.

You may have noticed the tightness in the back or side of your neck or around your scalp at anytime in the day or night if your work involves being at a desk. Particularly if you have used computers as the main part of your career, these symptoms can be quite persistent.

Another symptom may be tightness or even a burning sensation in between or towards the top of your shoulder blades, at times like a knife poking you in the back. Sometimes felt with tightness or tension around the chest or front of your shoulders

If it’s more serious for you, you may even experience numbness or tingling down your arm or just at the site of your fingers.

The important thing to note here is that all of these symptoms fall into a pattern or a cycle as a result of the postural changes that take place when sitting in front of the computer for a long time. That’s right, they’re all related! Don’t worry… These symptoms are manageable with your diligence and relaxation.

So what may be happening to cause these symptoms?

When you’re using a computer you are recruiting powerful muscles that are situated at the front of your shoulder. Generally speaking, any forward movement with your arms (operating the mouse or keyboard) recruits muscles at the front or side of your shoulder. More importantly, there are muscles attached to the front of your shoulder blades that are constantly being used while you’re working away. So by the end of the day, they are in dire need of a treatment!

These muscles attached to the front of your shoulder blade will pull it over and around your back when they become tight and short – giving you a rounded shoulder. This is where the cycle begins!

If the muscles at the front of your shoulders and shoulder blades become tight and short it creates tension on the muscles at the back of your shoulders – giving you that burning or tight sensation as they try to pull your shoulders back to its natural position. Without addressing this problem it will become chronic and so the next phase begins.

Towards the end of the day as your muscles become tighter while you are working away, you might find yourself slouching in your seat – don’t worry, its normal to be tired. But when this happens your spinal column is being pulled forward – and so this creates even more tension on the muscles in the back of your shoulders and spine because their job is to hold you upright – instead they are being lengthened too much – which may cause your symptoms to persist.

As you are slouched over, it’s important to know you still need to look straight, so naturally you lift your head to keep your eyes on the screen – Creating a forward head position. This position creates tension in the muscles at the back of your neck because their job is to extend your neck and head backwards and also support it in an upright position. Sustaining this position for a long time may tighten the muscles in the side of your neck, possibly closing off the pathway to vascular structures and a bundle of nerves that exit from this site and supply the input to the muscles in your arms – causing you numbness, tingling or even coldness.

As your body may be moulding in to this posture, muscles are becoming shorter and tighter, reducing the flow of blood and oxygen (as well as neural input) travelling to your working muscles. If your muscles can’t absorb a sufficient level of these vital sources then they become energy deprived. With less energy the demand becomes higher and so do the symptoms and thus leading to potential weakness and fatigue as they try to deal with the standard level of stress in day to day activity.

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms it may be worthwhile to receive a remedial massage treatment to prevent any chronic condition developing. Massage therapy is proven to promote circulation, good posture and support healthy nervous functioning. If you would like to receive a treatment call 02 92 333 800 and ask for Ricky. Or you can email me at: ricky@backonyourfeet.com.au

The problems that shape themselves into our body represent the remarkable ability our body has to mould itself so that it can adapt to the ever demanding stresses we place on it in our day to day activity. Our body becomes stronger in each activity (even in the minute intricate movement patterns we display) so that by the time we return to the same activity, with an equal or greater demand, we are capable of overcoming the task. Although we may not agree with the changes and adaptations happening in our body, due to the fact that they may not suit our desired state of health, the body has one goal and that is survival. So the ache in your neck or the tingling sensation felt down your arms should not be seen merely as a symptom, but the effort of your body calling for your attention.

Check out my Stretching Article http://www.backonyourfeet.com.au/blog/206/stretching/

We all know everybody likes to look their best. Your attire can say a lot if you’re trying to make an impression.  I’m here to tell you not to worry so much about what you’re wearing… but more about ‘how’ what you are wearing can be the major reason for those aches and pains in your body.

So to give you a deeper insight I’m stirring up one of fashions biggest items - shoes – They say you can tell a person by their shoes. In my experience of massage therapy I’ve found the type of shoes that somebody wears can cause serious feet, ankle, knee and back pain.

It’s important to know that the design of our body wasn’t meant for ‘additional’ items to be secured on to us. That’s right; we weren’t born with shoes or even clothes and fortunately for the well being of our kind these have been crafted to protect us in continuously varying weather conditions.

But, not all of these items (namely shoes) have been made to suit our natural function. This is where looks can kill! Many shoes that are made for casual wear, work or formal attire can be quite tough on our feet.

In our pattern of walking there are three main stages:

1. Heel Strike: The outer-side of your heel makes contact with the ground (your foot is rigid and is in a ‘locked’ position)
2. Mid-stance: The sole of your foot makes contact with the ground (your foot ‘unlocks’ and becomes mobile to adapt to the ground you are walking on and to allow weight and gravity to distribute evenly in your body)
3. Toe-off: Your foot in contact with the ground is moved up onto your toes and your body propels from here. (Your foot becomes rigid and ‘locks’ again to allow a strong push-off with your toes from the ground).

To summarise the three points above, your foot pattern from the first stage of contact would look like this:

Locked – unlocked – locked.

A lot of casual shoes have a flat sole and are quite flexible. The disadvantage is that there is no support for the arches in your feet. If you always wear flat soled shoes your arches may collapse. This puts your foot in an ‘unlocked’ position and therefore it loses its rigidity. Thus, it reduces the potential strength it would normally give to keep you supported for a fit walking pattern.

A lot of work and formal shoes are the opposite. These shoes tend to have a slight raised heel and are quite rigid. The disadvantage here is that the more rigid shoe doesn’t allow your foot to unlock easily. Therefore your foot loses its mobility and ability to fully adapt to the ground you are walking on.  If your foot remains rigid and locked your bodyweight plus gravity will continue to send shock down the outside of your body instead of distributing it evenly. Try walking only on your heels for five minutes!

Both of these types of shoes have the ability to cause serious foot, ankle, knee and back pain because they place your feet in an excessively unlocked position (flat soles) or an excessively locked position (work/formal shoes). These prolonged positions can easily send discomfort up the body not even realising its all starting from the feet.

Your muscles then have to work harder than normal to sustain equilibrium and thus increasing the risk of fatigue, tightness and injury. As your balance also becomes altered (even slightly) other parts of your body begin to compensate to make sure you don’t fall over.  Thus, your body is constantly on overdrive and will only get more tired and weak until you treat your muscles and improve your footwear.

If you are feeling sore in any of these areas, have a look at your footwear. A common sign may be wearing down of either side of the heels in your shoes. Do you have high arches or fallen arches? Do your toes look as if to be squashed together? Is your big toe crooked? It’s important to be aware of these things because it can reduce and prevent a lot of discomfort for the weight-bearing joints in your body.

For the ladies, if there’s one part of this article you should pay attention on, it’s here. As for high heels – take the problems mentioned in this article that come with poor footwear and ten-fold it. I’m not kidding either. If that doesn’t change your mind, you have a higher risk of fracturing your foot than those who choose not to wear high heels.

So to be realistic here, it is important to maintain the condition of your muscles as we continue to wear shoes. Some of you may not have a choice of the type of shoe you wear. However some of you do and you should choose a good quality shoe that supports but also allows for mobility within your foot. They do exist! In both situations the measures you take along with the shoes you wear can make all the difference in the avoidance of pain or injury.

Massage therapy and learning specific stretches can help improve the condition of your muscles that may be tense or injured from poor footwear or prolonged use of rigid or unsupported shoes. If you’d like to make an appointment for a massage treatment please call 02 92 333 800 and ask for Ricky. I might even be able to recommend a good pair of shoes for you. You can also email me on ricky@backonyourfeet.com.au