Running is most popular and least expensive form of workout. No special techniques are required in placing one foot ahead of the other. Running and walking are natural exercises as we have been learning them since the time we were one year old. But such a simple activity, too is not left untouched by consumerism.
MECHANICS OF RUNNING Running involves almost all the muscles in our body. It is a very good cardiovascular exercise. Lungs, brain, blood circulation, nervous sytem and skin …. almlost all the organs are involved. When we land our foot on the ground, the impact generated is 3 to 4 times the body weight. Surprisingly, the bones have the strength to bear impact almost 20 – 30 times the body weight before getting fractured or yielding. Human feet and legs have evolved for running long distances as well as short sprints.
NATURAL SPRING ACTION Skin below the feet and palms is made very different from rest of the body. The skin has special receptors to sense the smallest of the pebbles or a blade of grass and toughness to bear load of entire body at the same time. Skin in palms is very sensitive to various things. So much so that a blind person can identify other person just by a single touch. Also skin is so tough that it has enabled our ancestors to walk miles barefoot, climb trees, hold sticks and swords.
During running the shock of impact is absorbed by the spring action of knees and hip joints and by the natural shock absorbers – jelly like discs in the spine. Coordination of calf muscles, soleus, quads, hamstrings, glutes, ankles, knees and hip joints, swinging action of arms create a powerful force and natural shock absorption. There is no need of wearing shoes at all. Shoes are required only to protect from dirt and bruises. Interistingly, humans fit iron shoes to the horses.
SHIN PAIN Shin pain refers to the pain in shin bones or tibia during or after running. Most of us have experienced it at some point of time. “Poor shoes” is the reason sited by the shoe marketing guys. Real reason is the lack of calcium.
Only few of us know that calcium is an essential substance in muscle contraction. The general notion is that calcium is a constituent of bones only. But calcium (Ca2+) is an important ion which transfers nerve signal (contraction) from nerves to the muscles. Everytime a signal is sent by brain to the legs, calcium stored in muscles and blood is utilised and contraction takes place. When we run long distances, calcium is continuously being utilised. If their is lack of calcium in our diets, the deficiency is fulfilled by drawing it from the bones. Due to which bones become weaker. When we run, the first impact is on the shin bone. Since the bone is already weak due to lack of calcium, it starts becoming soft and pains. Intensity and duration of running should be gradualy increased as our muscles slowly get trained to store more calcium. Diet and nutrition should be proper so as to fill the calcium stores in the body. Now, does wearing a better or softer shoe solve the problem in any way? Instead of buying the expensive , so called “soft and airfoam bla bla bla” shoe, money could have been spent on a calcium rich food or a calcium supplement.
SUB-CONSCIOUS ANCHORS Shoes or footwears are the first thing that are noticed in the personality of an individual. To avoid eye contact with a stranger, most suitable place to anchor the eyes is the feet of the person as this does not seem to be offending to the stranger. Sub consciously, shoes act as a visual anchor and tend to dispaly the grooming habits and personality of the individual.
Consumerism is making money out of this simple fact. Expensive sports shoes with some funky design have become a social status even if the utility is zero. Sports shoes are being worn not only for sports but for all sorts of other affairs like parties, daily activities, travelling etc. A shoe which was branded by the company as a 16 mile shoe may never be utilised for running a single mile.
BASIC FUNCTIONS The axe to cut a tree has to be of iron. Something softer than that will not work. A shoe which has to bear the load of the entire body, the impact and friction of ground has to be rough and tough. Buying a soft shoe for running is a foolishness as it will yield very soon . But the strategy of selling a soft shoe works very well for the shoe stores. A soft shoe seems very comfortable and fitting at the time of buying and immediately attracts customers.
Any new shoe will seem strange as the muscles of legs and brain are getting used to the pressure points of the shoe. Shoe material also expands slowly to take the shape of the foot. But a soft shoe will immediately take the shape of the foot during trial at the store. This is beneficial for the store holders not for the customers. There are FIVE basic functions of a running shoe :
- A sole which is flexible enough to bend with the toe quickly.
- Proper fitting.
- Supports ankle from twisting.
- Prevents from bruises or dirt.
- Does not slip.
Any shoe that fulfills the above requirements with few add ons like colour (of your choice), with or without laises would be good enough for running.
STAY FIT !! STAY HEALTHY!!
Feel free to comment any queries……
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