Fit Tip of the Day: Towel Stretch

foot Fit Tip of the Day: Towel StretchDo you ever experience some pain on the soles of your feet after exercising? There are a lot of causes for agony of the feet — from simply wearing unsupportive or worn out shoes to plantar fasciitis. This towel stretch can help keep your feet limber and pain free.

I had a bad case of plantar fasciitis a few years ago and I’ve been taking better care of my feet ever since. Plantar fasciitis is an inflammatory problem and it causes stiffness and shooting pain in your feet. When I was in the throes of plantar fasciitis I had major post workout pain and simply stepping out of bed in the morning was really painful.

There are several things you can do to protect your feet; wear supportive shoes that are appropriate for your workout, alternate your workouts so you’re not always exercising on a hard surface, and regularly stretch your calves and feet.

My favorite stretch (and the one I think helped my plantar fasciitis the most) is the towel stretch.

  • Roll a towel and place it under the ball of your foot.
  • Hold an end of the towel in each hand.
  • Keep your knee straight and gently pull the towel toward you.
  • Hold for 15 seconds and repeat on the other side.

Save Yourself from Your Stilettos

stilettos 199x300 Save Yourself from Your StilettosLike Carrie Bradshaw, I’m a huge fan of stilettos.  I believe the only difference between me and her is the fact that my closet isn’t filled with Manolos….but one day!  There’s something so sexy about slipping into high heels — not only do they make your legs look hot, but they also make you feel empowered and ready to take on the world.

Even though there are serious benefits to wearing these sexy stompers – they can do some serious damage to your legs and back.  How often do you complain that your feet hurt about a half hour after walking around in your heels?

Heels over 2.5 inches tall can throw off your posture and affect the joints from your feet all the way up through your neck.  You may not feel discomfort right away –- but as time goes on you can experience severe ankle, knee and back problems -– all thanks to those killer shoes.

Not ready to give up rocking your high heels?  I don’t blame you.  Instead of wearing them all the time, wear flats until you reach your destination and slip on your stilettos when you get there.  By carrying flats in your bag you can take the strain off of your feet as you commute or to slip into after a night out.