When was the last time you paid attention to your walk? Some people such as Naomi Campbell and Heidi Klum pay so much attention to their walk that they are paid millions! You do not have to be a supermodel to understand the importance of your walk, also called your gait. Whether you know it or not, your gait says a lot about you.

If you have foot and leg issues, your walk can help your podiatrist determine what is causing the problem. Most people do not know it, but there is a science to walking. From the time your heel hits the ground to the time your toes leave the ground, the muscles and bones of your feet are moving and contracting to make your foot stable. The more stable your foot, the less chance there is for injury.

No one has perfect feet, but some people have issues that make it very difficult to walk correctly. For instance, some people have flat feet, or feet that naturally point in or out. Overtime, these problems will need the special care of a podiatrist to make sure walking problems do not affect the overall health of the feet.

Even when your feet look normal, there are many things that we do every day that can cause you to not walk correctly. It may not seem like a big deal, but walking improperly overtime can lead to calluses, bunions, ulcers, and in very bad cases, the collapse of the foot. The next time you visit Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center, LLP for a foot problem, ask your podiatrist if your problem is related to your gait. Not only will your podiatrist answer your question, but he or she can tell you exactly what your foot is supposed to be doing as you step forward. Before your next appointment at one of our locations in Howell, Edison, or Monroe, NJ, here are a few tips you can do now to improve foot stability as you walk.

1) If necessary, lose weight.

· Losing weight is easier said than done, but the benefits of weight loss are huge for your feet and your health. Being obese causes you to put more weight and pressure on the balls of your feet. Also, overweight people tend walk with their feet rolled inward. These excess forces and improper movement will eventually lead to foot pain, ankle pain, and even knee pain. Your doctor and podiatrist can give you information on what exercises are best for you.

2) Don’t wear shoes that cause you pain!

· Have you ever noticed that your legs hurt after wearing a pair of heels? Do you find yourself gripping the floor with your toes while walking in flip flops? This is not good! Walking in uncomfortable shoes can cause muscles in your legs and feet to not do their job properly. When this happens, other muscles try to pick up the slack. This makes walking correctly hard. With each step, your muscles are overworking and you can develop inflamed tendons and unstable bones. If you are going to wear heels or flip flops, try to limit wear to a few hours a day.

3) Speak up about the “small stuff”.

·      The next time you are walking, look at your feet. Do you lean more to the left or right? Does it seem harder to lift your foot off the ground? Is your foot slapping against the ground? These signs can mean something serious such as muscle weakness or a damaged nerve. Even if you are not experiencing pain, speak up! Always let your podiatrist know if you notice any changes in your gait so that you can get the proper care as soon as possible.

Improving your gait is an investment that is worth taking. The earlier, the better. You will definitely thank yourself in the years to come!

By Dr. Alison DeWaters