By Rebecca Warriner
I’ve been really lucky (or smart, but I’ll go with lucky) in my training. I’ve only had one “issue” and that was with my IT band years ago. So mid-summer when I noticed a new tightness in my right Achilles I was a bit confused! I’m used to feeling great while training almost all the time. But having had many friends and training buddies suffer with plantar fasciitis I wondered if this was the beginning! The area of issue was a point I just couldn’t stretch or massage.
So I had to think outside the traditional gym and I turned to a lower leg and foot compression sock and something I could use at my desk. The compression sock I chose was pretty awesome because it was so thin but extremely supportive. It didn’t have toes so I could sleep in it without getting too hot, I could wear it with my regular running socks or if I wanted to be high athlete-fashion, my flip flops (which I did). The support provided by the sock at night helped keep my foot in a more neutral position and definitely reduced the early morning pain.
But my favorite thing was The Foot Gym. As with most professionals, I spend a lot of time at my desk and I’m usually sitting curled up in my chair in the most non-ergonomic position possible; not good for a tight Achilles! The Foot Gym sat under my desk and my foot was able to rest on it most of the time I was at my desk. I was skeptical when I opened the box. How would this small incline make a difference? Well, when I started using it while seated (as instructed) I had to actually push my leg down to keep my heel on the platform – I was that tight! The gradual, subtle, low-pressure stretch was a pleasant way to slowly and gently stretch the impossible stretch.
The Foot Gym also came with three levels of resistance bands and a guide of different exercises to address just about any foot and ankle rehab or strengthening program! It reminded me of a multi-tool for your feet! And when you think about it, your feet are probably one of the most important parts of any sport we choose to take part in. If your feet hurt, running and cycling can be more of a challenge; inflexible ankles don’t produce an effective kick while swimming. If your feet or ankles are weak lifting weights is that much harder without that solid base.
Because I don’t ever want to be limited by my body (my mind or schedule are all things I can overcome!) I am excited to have the Foot Gym as a constant companion under my desk to provide a way for me to multi-task my Achilles rehabilitation.
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Rebecca Warriner is a mom, runner, triathlete, Race Director and Mary Kay lady in Wake Forest. She has been swimming, biking, and running since birth and has completed races of every distance from sprints to ultras and they are all done with a smile and a thankful heart!
