What Can a Barefoot Runner Teach Nurses, Teachers, Hairdressers, and Retail and Food Service Associates

Barefoot running teaches us that the human body is a wonderfully capable machine that blossoms when freed from the confines of restrictive shoes.  The myth that shoe “technology” will improve upon the human machine is quickly falling by the wayside.  Instead of helping us perform better, we’re discovering the narrow constrictive style, motion-control, raised heels, support, and spongy cushioning of the modern running shoe deform and weaken our feet by acting like a pillow-like cast that alters our foot function and body position.

What does this have to do with nurses, teachers, hairdressers, and those employed in the retail and food service industries?

Posture.

All of these professions spend significant time on their feet, either standing or walking.  Having worked in several of these industries for years, I can attest to the suffering that occurs.  Standing can be extraordinarily stressful on your body… if you have bad posture.  What causes bad posture?

Raised heels.

It is such a simple problem, it is often overlooked.  A raised heel in a shoe forces your pelvis to pivot forward a few degrees.  This causes your buttocks to stick out a little bit, which is one of the reasons high heeled shoes are worn by women.  This pivoting of the hips requires us to slightly arch our backs to stand up straight.  This forces us to stick out our chest, which stresses our lower back.  Incidentally, it also causes our chest to stick out… another aesthetic effect that explains the popularity of high heeled shoes among women.

Historically, foot, knee, hip, and back problems are a curse that invariably sets in over time.  The traditional solution is nearly identical to the solution injured runners seek- more cushioning, more support.  When “better” shoes don’t solve the problem, we turn to medical intervention.  Custom orthotics.  Drugs.  Radical surgery.  Worse, each unsuccessful intervention costs more than the next.

Eliminating these problems can be deceptively simple- get rid of raised heel shoes.  Many professionals that spend significant time on their feet choose shoes that feel comfortable in the store, but ultimately cause the myriad of painful symptoms once they are worn at work.  Instead of purchasing shoes that provide more of the things that lead to the problems, try simplifying your shoes.

The ideal shoe will have a flat sole with minimal cushioning.  The flat sole assures good posture when standing, and the lack of cushioning allows your feet to act as shock absorbers.

Skeptical?

Give it a shot.  What do you have to lose?  The cost of most flat-soled cushionless shoes is pretty low, especially compared to the myriad of other special shoes, orthotics, and medical treatments that typify the common solutions.

Once you find a pair of flat shoes, give them about four weeks.  This is sufficient time to allow your body to adapt to the new posture.  Expect some degree of muscle soreness as your core muscles adapt to the new, correct posture.

When you’re convinced the solution works, share the idea with coworkers and friends in similar professions.  Encourage them to share the solution, too.  It’s possible to end the chronic ailments that plague so many professions with a change of shoes.  It’s a simple fix that can create amazing results.

Feel free to share this post by emailing it to friends and colleagues in any profession that spends time on their feet, share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, or any other social network.  Post it on their wall.  Print it out and leave it in their mailbox.  Leave a few copies in the lunch room.  Do a tiny part to make a difference.  😉

For anyone that has experienced success with this fix, briefly tell us your story in the comments below.

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