My Blog

Posts for tag: Walking

By Affiliated Podiatrists, Ltd.
July 07, 2015
Category: Foot Care
Tags: Walking   Running  

Protecting Feet on the 606 If you're looking for a beautiful place to get some exercise and make lasting memories with friends and family in the Chicago area, nothing beats the 606. With 2.7 scenic miles of park and trail, many families love taking advantage of all that the attraction has to offer. Unfortunately, however, if you don't come prepared, your fun day trip to the 606 in Chicago can easily end with a trip to your podiatrist at Affiliated Podiatrists. Here are three ways to make sure it doesn't.

1. Wear Proper Footwear

Choosing the right footwear is always an important way to prevent an unnecessary trip to your Chicago podiatrist, but never is it more important than when hitting the parks and trails. Proper footwear will not only provide your feet with the support they need for plenty of walking, but they will also help protect your feet from sunburn, small animals, broken glass and other hazards you might encounter on the trail.

2. Keep Your Nails Trimmed Short

Chances are, you don't give much thought to your toenails before you visit the park. You should! If your toenails are long or jagged, they can easily cut your toes or cause pain and discoloration. Cut nails straight across and short, but not too short.

3. Take Breaks as Needed

If you aren't already in the habit of exercising regularly, attempting to walk 2.7 miles may leave you feeling tired and out of breath, especially if you will be visiting on a hot or humid day. There's no need to tackle it all at once. Take breaks as needed and stay well hydrated in order to prevent foot and body pain.

If you haven't yet visited the beautiful 606 in Chicago, plan to visit soon! Just be sure you follow these three foot care tips to help you avoid an unnecessary visit to your podiatrists at Affiliated Podiatrists.

0 Comment(s) Permalink
By Affiliated Podiatrists, LTD
September 22, 2014
Category: Foot Care
Tags: Chicago   Foot Care   Podiatrists   Walking   IL   Footwear  
PodiatristsIn today’s society, many of us are interested in getting in shape and becoming healthy individuals. However, sometimes exercise can be a drag. One activity that can be beneficial to your health is walking, but what can you do to make it more fun and effective? To help you stay physically active, healthy and happy, Dr. Marc Feder, our Chicago podiatrist, offers 5 helpful tips for making walking more fun and effective, while also protecting your feet from harm.
 

1. Bring a Friend

It is hard to stay motivated—we’ve all been there before. To help you remain motivated, invite a friend. When you invite a friend to join you on walks, it can help you remain motivated because you won’t want to let your friend down. Having a walking partner can keep you both active and healthy by urging the other to keep up with your walking schedule. Find your buddy and start walking today!
 

2. Add Weights

While walking can be beneficial for your health, you can always add a great aerobic benefit with weights. The addition of weights as you walk can help to create further exercise in helping you get in shape and say fit. You can add the weights to your belt or pockets to help evenly distribute the weight while you are walking. It also helps to keep things changing within your workout routine—add more weights as you grow accustomed to the weight!
 

3. Take Your Dog

Previously we mentioned to bring a friend, but if you have a dog why not bring them, too? By bringing your dog on a walk, not only are you getting exercise, but your dog is, too! Start out slow and bring your dog on a short walk. Each time you take a walk, try going for a longer period of time until you reach your end goal and are able to complete the same walk every day or every other day. Try to mix things up a bit and change your walking area to try new things and keep it interesting.
 

4. Get a Pedometer

A pedometer counts each step you take and 2,000 steps equal a mile of walking. Wear your pedometer all day to see just how many steps you take daily. And at the end of your workday, go for a walk to add more steps to your pedometer! Not only will you be getting exercise, but you will have fun doing it. Uh oh—only at 4,500 steps? Take a quick walk to build up your steps to 6,000 for a total of 3 miles! There are even apps on your phone to aide in walking and monitoring how far you have gone, your route, and other benefits.
 

5. Bring Music

Sometimes all you need is a good set of tunes to get you going for your daily walk. Choose upbeat music that can motivate you to walk and to keep walking. Try to walk to the beat of the music to make it even more fun and entertaining. By listening to your favorite music, you can keep your interest from wandering to other things on your to-do list. You can even create a walking-specific playlist of songs that keep you in the mood to remain active.
 

Remember to Wear Proper Footwear

While you can make walking fun, it is also important to make sure you wear proper footwear so that you do not suffer an injury that prevents you from working out. When it comes to your shoes, it is important to choose a good quality, lightweight walking shoe with breathable upper materials. The heel counter should be very firm and it should have reduced cushioning to position the heel closer to the ground for walking stability.
 

Call Affiliated Podiatrists, LTD Today!

Proper footwear is essential in protecting your feet from injury and pain, while allowing you to remain active and properly walk for exercise. It is important to first meet with your podiatrist prior to beginning any exercise or walking routine. By meeting with your podiatrist in Chicago, a proper walking regimen can be created to ensure appropriate exercise and protection of your feet.
 
Are you a patient of Affiliated Podiatrists, LTD? If so, we would love to hear about your experiences below!
0 Comment(s) Permalink