Summer has us thinking about ditching our typical shoes for sandals and flip flops! With that, it is a great time to assess the impacts of our daily footwear on our bodies.
Dress shoes for women and dress shoes and most work boots for men are designed with an elevated heel. This elevation places the foot in an unnaturally plantar flexed position that, overtime, can shorten the posterior muscles of the leg (like the calves and hamstrings) and elongate those of the anterior leg. This leads to a decrease in normal ankle dorsiflexion range of motion and increased pronation.
This alteration can impact the function of other muscles and joints throughout the body, so it is vital to restore and maintain normal range of motion and strength. Use these warmer months to give your heels a rest and work on stretching your posterior leg muscles and strengthening your anterior muscles.