Skateboarding is a marvelous activity more and more people are going back to. It has amazing health benefits and is loads of fun. Over the past few decades, there have been many questions about how skateboarding impacts our health. From the way we fall, roll, and stand. Does skateboarding make you flat-footed? There are a few people who believe this is true.
This sport activates different sets of muscles in the body. When done right, it is a great exercise. But when it is done wrong it can adversely impact overall health. Let’s discuss does skateboarding make you flat-footed, and why is it important to take care of your body.
Thus, skateboarding does not make you flat-footed. However, wearing odd skating footwear or riding a skateboard without the proper gear can turn trivial deformities of the feet into a much severe problem later in time.
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It Is Important to Take Care of Your Feet
True skateboarders consider this a lifestyle. They want to be able to skate forever. There is no limit at what age you should stop skateboarding. It comes down to your will, ability, and health.
To be able to do so, it is important to take care of your feet. Even though pedicures and foot massages don’t seem like a good way to spend money, in the long run it is very important.
By their structure, feet are made up of three arches. The main ‘arch’ is on the inside. The second one is parallel on the outside edge of your foot. The third one runs across the metatarsal heads.
It is not hard to get injured with any type of physical activity. Skateboarding is advanced with the chances of getting hurt. Having regular practice, stretches and adequate footwear is extremely important. Also, people who are diagnosed with flat feet need to take some extra measures of precaution. You may also consider taking a break from skateboarding whether your health seems to be at risk.
What Are Flat Feet?
In most people, when standing barefoot, we can notice that the arch of the foot is raised from the surface and that there is a space of “holes” between the arch of the foot and the ground. In healthy and normal feet, the arch of the foot is separated from the floor. With flat feet, the arch of the foot is lowered much closer to the ground or there is not even an arch at all.
Flat-footed people are significantly more protruding due to the lowered arch and is easily noticeable when standing or walking.
Most people who have flat feet do not have pain due to this condition and usually do not have problems in everyday life. A few may have pain in the feet, especially when the muscles and ligaments of the feet are tense, for example, when they are standing on toes. Pain is also possible in the ankles. If the arch of the foot is lowered, the tension is transferred to the ankle and knee, and pain in those joints is possible.
Flat feet can appear in childhood due to poor development, and they can also appear in adulthood, for example in women after pregnancy. Several simple solutions can prevent the development and complications of flat feet.
Symptoms of Flat Feet
Symptoms are what the patient feels, and the signs are what a doctor or other person may notice. They may include pain in the foot while signs may be bulging feet outward.
Indications can be different and can vary depending on the severity of the deformity, while the signs can be, for example, faster wear of shoes. Common signs and symptoms of flat feet can be:
- Pain on the inside of the ankle
- Pain in the whole foot
- Pain in the posterior lobe of the lower leg
- Knee pain
- Hip pain
- Lumbar back pain
- Stiffness in the feet
- Lack of arch of the foot
- Uneven footwear tares on the inside
The foot has an extremely complex structure. There are 26 bones in each foot, 33 joints, and about 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. How they are connected and how they “hold” each other determines the formation of arches in the foot.
The function of the arch of the foot is to absorb the force and distribute the body weight on the foot and legs. The structure of the arches of the foot determines how a person walks, they must be firm to allow a smooth walk and at the same time, they must be flexible in order to be able to adapt to any unevenness or change in the forces acting on the foot.
In early childhood, it is normal for children to have flat feet. Feet and arches are formed in childhood, which means that the appearance of flat feet in early childhood does not have to continue in later life. Having healthy feet provides support for basic activities such as walking or running, and more complex exercises as well such as yoga, swimming, pilates, hiking, trekking, skateboarding, etc.
Why Are Flat Feet Bad?
There are many difficulties that flat feet can cause. Read the following to understand the most common ones.
Knee Problems
Having pain in your knees or other joints can usually be caused by flat feet. This happens because the weight of your body is not properly distributed. It puts pressure on the bones to use up the marrow faster than intended.
Toe and Foot Deformity
When feet are kept in an unnatural position for too long, the muscles weaken over time. This can change the shape of your foot. In addition to it becoming longer and wider, the toes start to warp- this can be pretty painful. In addition to general discomfort, this can also cause corn.
A Sore Sensation When Running
Flat feet put the pelvic bone in an unnatural position. This is associated with the dispersion of the entire body weight. Also, this results in strong pain in the feet, calves, and legs during any longer physical activities.
Vein Problems
In addition to impacting your bones and muscle structure, flat feet can impact veins, which can lead to bad circulation. You will mostly feel this if you are standing for a longer time. This can cause pain in the hips and the lower back.
Headaches
Strong headaches followed by back pain are often a combination caused by flat feet. Every step we make is connected with our feet. When your feet are flat the muscles of your bodywork under greater pressure in order to stabilize your body during movement. This can cause a chain reaction to issues that start with pain in the feet, knees, hips, and the lumbar part of the back. The wrong posture also impacts blood flow and muscle contraction which leads to headaches.
What Can a Skateboard Do for Your Body?
If you want a powerful cardio workout that will hit your whole body and allow you to have fun and recreate with a smile, now is the time to try skateboarding. Michael Olson, a professor at the University of Auburn, compared the results of skateboarding to the benefits of skipping a spiral and riding a stationary bike, noting that the necessary change in pace from slow to faster may play a role in the processes that take place during this type of training.
He came up with interesting results. Namely, even if you don’t know how to do any tricks, skateboarding alone will speed up your cardiovascular system and burn an incredible eight to twelve calories every minute of riding! quadriceps, lower back muscles, tendons, and even the abdomen. It can also make your legs look bigger. Abdominals work together with the back to maintain stability, and this is a basic characteristic that the body needs to have in order to maintain balance on the board.
Skateboard Insoles for Flat Feet
We cannot emphasize enough that proper footwear for any type of activity is the most important. When it comes to skateboarding, whether it is recreational or professional, it can impact your body. This is particularly common among people who have some type of foot condition. They are more prone to injuries and sores.
Flat feet are more common than people may realize. Because of that, there are plenty of different insoles and footwear available on the market. Finding the right pair can prevent injuries, and make the overall skateboarding experience much more comfortable. One way to reduce discomfort is extra shock absorption insoles. Depending on the type of strain flat feet have on your body, consult a specialist before purchasing proper insoles.
Does Skateboarding Make You Flat-Footed?
Information can travel fast today, and incorrect information travels even faster. There are many different reasons why people have flat feet. Most often they occur in childhood, but they are common among adults as well. This often happens because of improper posture, poor footwear, and obesity (most frequently combined.
So, skateboarding does not make you flat-footed. But, wearing improper skate shoes as walking shoes, or riding a skateboard without the proper equipment can turn a small deformity of the feet into a serious problem. On the other hand, people who know they have flat feet have reported therapeutic results after driving the skateboard for a while. It helps the muscles and balance, so it works as a form of therapy for people who already have flat feet. Some people even prefer skateboarding rather than running, as they claim it is the only sport that relieves both the body and mind.
