13. Discard Shoes
Your shoes can play a major role in how you physically feel including your ability to sense the floor and yourself in space to be able to orient yourself upright using the appropriate postural muscles.
Shoes have the potential to be either supportive or detrimental to your health and it is time to assess your shoes and the need for any updates. Any shoe that has your foot print worn into it, most likely it is time for an update. These worn patterns in the shoes actually keep you walking in a certain way, limiting your ability to resonate and shift into new more aligned walking patterns.
Gather all of the shoes that you currently use or would still use and check the following:
1. Tread
- Do your shoes still have the tread visible or are they worn down?
- When worn down even just a little, it can mean it’s time to update.
- If you can’t see the tread marks or they are worn down as you can see in the photo above, you need an update.
2. Levelness
- Do your shoes have any worn edges like a wedge was shaved off, typically seen at the heels.
- Any wearing or tilt can cause significant imbalances, keeping you stuck in a poor postural pattern which can contribute to health issues and limit your ability to heal.
3. Integrity
- Are things falling apart or breaking down? Are there holes and tears in the shoes?
- Do you feel supported by your shoes?
- Any aspect of the shoes that cause a compensation or alter your natural optimal gait do not deserve to take up space in your closet.
4. Sensory Input
- When you put the shoes on, can you feel your weight in your heels, or is it primarily at the balls of your feet?
- Can you feel your right arch and big toe when standing and walking?
- These are important sensory reference centers and if you are unable to feel them then your body is likely overusing certain muscle groups that are causing postural imbalances and torque.
- Typically, high heeled shoes do not provide appropriate sensory input. Sometimes shoes with even just a little heel can throw you off.
5. Postural Alignment
- Without shoes on, select and perform a physical resonance test taking note of how you feel and your results. Then place the shoes you are assessing on and perform the exact same physical assessment. If the test results got worse, then the shoes are no longer supportive for you.
- If the test results are better than the shoes are positively supporting you.
- If there is no difference then the shoes are neutral.
- Typically, people keep old shoes to do odd dirty chores. This is when injury frequently happens. If your physical assessment test was worse for any test, these shoes need to go!
6. Attachment keeping you stuck
- Sometimes we hold on to shoes way too long without even wearing them. They take up space and collect dust. This may be due to an attachment to them, a memory when wearing them or not wanting to throw them away.
- Is there an emotional connection between you and these shoes that is keeping you attached to and old way of being?
Sometimes we hold on to shoes too long and it can prolong poor postural patterns that have the potential to contribute to significant health issues! As Physical Therapists, we see many common but significant injuries happen in poor footwear!
After reviewing this criteria above, we recommend you clear out any shoes that are not appropriately supporting you and go shoe shopping within the next 3 weeks, if not sooner.
- Refer here to help determine what brand or type of footwear is best for you or consult us and we will help you.
- Discard any shoes that negatively impacted your Physical Resonance Tests and walk. Don't keep them even as "junk shoes" for nasty chores. These shoes no longer serve you and the Physical Resonance Tests prove it.
- You especially need to be in supportive footwear when doing chores that are moderate to heavy. If not, this is when injuries are more likely to happen. As Physical Therapists, we see many common but significant injuries happen doing odd jobs in poor footwear!
- When you load your body in a poor postural pattern it is less able to handle what you are doing. If you are supported well, you have more power, strength and control of your body. So when performing something that challenges you, rather than risk an injury, appropriately support your feet which translates up through the rest of your postural system. Foundation is key!
Enjoy these other related Master Guide items to resonate health:
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This content is being provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. This content has the potential to produce healing and detox responses. Please consult your medical doctor or professional if you have medical concerns. If you experience any discomfort or adverse effects discontinue.
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