How Happy Feet Help Your Balance

An often-overlooked aspect of our ability to balance is the function of our feet and how well they are functioning.

 

Why is this important?  

• They are our primary contact with the surfaces we stand and move over.  

• They provide a great deal of information to our brain and nervous system about the position of our body in space.  

• This information helps our brain see where we are and adjusts our body’s position to prevent us from falling over. 

• This allows us to respond quickly to any sudden changes in our environment/surface we are moving over decreasing our chances of falling.  

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What information does your feet provide to your brain that reduces the risk of falling? 

• Nerve cells in your skin at the bottom of your feet tell your brain about the texture of the surface you are on. 

• Each joint in your foot and ankle has nerve cells that give your brain information about the position of your foot and ankle in relationship to the surface you are traveling over. 

• Both nerve cells provide information that provides a picture of where your body is in space and how the surface you are walking over changes, allowing you to respond to sudden changes in the surface. 

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When your feet aren't working the way they are designed to it reduces your ability to rapidly respond to changes in the environment/surface you are moving over. 

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How does Happy Feet help? 

• Restores movement and strength in the joints of the foot and ankle. 

• Increases your ability to respond to sudden changes in the environment/surface you are moving over. 

• Decreases foot pain that distorts the information coming in from the foot and ankle, decreasing the risk of losing balance and falling.