The importance of staying physically active on your overall wellness is no big secret. When you think about the benefits of exercise, though, you may not think about benefits to your lower limbs. Sure, it’s easy to focus on weight loss and muscle definition, but do not overlook the benefits of exercise on feet and ankles!
Some of the ways an active lifestyle contributes to healthy feet include:
- Type 2 diabetes prevention. A big reason to consider leading an active life is the role exercise can play in the prevention of diabetes. This is important for foot care, because diabetes is a disease capable of placing feet at risk for serious medical complications, including neuropathy (nerve damage) and peripheral arterial disease (poor blood circulation).
- Better blood pressure. Exercise is necessary for a healthy heart, which you need to make sure your lower limbs receive the appropriate levels of nourishment they need. Cardiovascular activities like running, biking, swimming, and even simply walking can make a big difference in ensuring your blood is circulating to and from the heart appropriately.
- Strong muscles. One of the less-often considered benefits of strong lower limb muscles is that they help absorb the physical force loads from walking and running. Bones face a tremendous amount of stress from high-impact activities, but muscles take some of the load off them. If muscles aren’t strong and developed, they do not offer the same level of assistance, which means increased risk of stress fractures in foot and leg bones.
- Strong bones. Muscles can help carry the load, but bones do a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to force absorption. For this reason, they need to be strong. Exercise can actually contribute to bone strength, particularly when healthy circulation provides them with the nourishment they need.
- Improved range of motion. Keeping your feet, and especially the connective tissues in them, flexible is essential for avoiding some common medical issues like Achilles tendinitis and plantar fasciitis.
Active lifestyles lead to healthy feet, but so too does knowing where to go to for exceptional foot care. If you live in the greater Wichita, KS community, this means coming to The Kansas Foot Center for the best in treatment and preventative tips. Contact us by calling (316) 283-4330 for more information, or simply schedule an appointment at any of our offices—Wichita or Newton—and we will provide the care you need.