The role of activity for foot health can be addressed in many ways.
- Encourage your children to get up and have a two minute walk every 20 minutes when they are studying, watching TV or playing games.
- Place a limit on sitting around at home, remember they are often sitting for long periods already when at school.
- Encourage participation in sport or even walking activities in the backyard or local walks.
- Encourage them to do some of their reading homework standing for maybe half the reading.
- Suggest they help with some chores around the house that keep them active. (Good luck!)
From our hunter gatherer days our body was used to around the 4 to 5 hours of moderate activity. We haven’t had that since the industrial revolution, claimed by the Netherland folk to originate with their windmills, which allowed building boats in 3 weeks instead of 3 months due to harnessing the wind to do the wood sawing.
When we are sedentary for long periods the body moves into a higher state of systemic chronic inflammation (SCI) which is a form of internal inflammation considered as a major risk factor for most chronic degenerative diseases. It is believed to be starting in young children, especially when their activity level is low.
When muscles aren’t worked often, they weaken, which can also lead to them overworking. Regular participation in group sports and other chosen physical activity can also reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, which can also present in the childhood to teenage years. Early active lifestyle habits are good preventative medicine and set up good habits for children as they grow into young adults.
If your children are having any pain related to their locomotion and walking/exercising hours, we can carry out assessment for them from approximately 2 years old, sometimes younger. Please contact Hip2Toe Plus on (07)40543330 for an appointment. We look forward to caring for your children and families.