Comments on: Ah, those golden arches… http://www.katysays.com/2009/07/22/ah-those-golden-arches/ Fri, 10 Sep 2010 00:12:27 +0000 hourly 1 By: Chris http://www.katysays.com/2009/07/22/ah-those-golden-arches/comment-page-1/#comment-4157 Chris Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:19:13 +0000 http://katysays.com/?p=85#comment-4157 Jason, When I asked my sister about her toddler's flat feet, she quoted her pediatrician who believed, like you, that "all children are born with flat feet, and will continue to have flat feet up to about age 4." Her child, at age 11 still has flat feet, or fallen arches, whatever you want to call them. This information is incorrect, and my sister missed a window to help her child correct a debilitating condition. My children were both born with arches, yay for me, but I was surprised, because I believed what her pediatrician told her. Since I noticed this discrepency, I've been quietly observing the feet of babies and children. There are lots of flat feet, and some that are not. My purely anecdotal correlation is...ta da: artificial vs. natural feeding (formula fed=flat footed, breast fed=arches) I often notice that doctors tend to confuse common with normal--as in "osteo-arthritis is a normal part of aging." Personally, I think that our poor nutritional status in general affects the quality of health of our children. Why might breastfed babies be born with arches? Women who choose to breastfeed could be more concerned with eating well, and maybe their better nutrional status before they conceive has a positive effect on the quality and functionality of the connective tissue of their children. I could be full or it, but there you have it. Jason,
When I asked my sister about her toddler’s flat feet, she quoted her pediatrician who believed, like you, that “all children are born with flat feet, and will continue to have flat feet up to about age 4.” Her child, at age 11 still has flat feet, or fallen arches, whatever you want to call them. This information is incorrect, and my sister missed a window to help her child correct a debilitating condition. My children were both born with arches, yay for me, but I was surprised, because I believed what her pediatrician told her.

Since I noticed this discrepency, I’ve been quietly observing the feet of babies and children. There are lots of flat feet, and some that are not. My purely anecdotal correlation is…ta da: artificial vs. natural feeding (formula fed=flat footed, breast fed=arches)

I often notice that doctors tend to confuse common with normal–as in “osteo-arthritis is a normal part of aging.” Personally, I think that our poor nutritional status in general affects the quality of health of our children. Why might breastfed babies be born with arches? Women who choose to breastfeed could be more concerned with eating well, and maybe their better nutrional status before they conceive has a positive effect on the quality and functionality of the connective tissue of their children.

I could be full or it, but there you have it.

]]> By: Yvonne http://www.katysays.com/2009/07/22/ah-those-golden-arches/comment-page-1/#comment-3355 Yvonne Fri, 18 Jun 2010 09:24:15 +0000 http://katysays.com/?p=85#comment-3355 Yes, this is why my arch was always so beautiful. I was a barefooter! I'm less so today, but that's more due to the crap that is always around on the ground these days. Instead I buy footwear from Soft Star Shoes. They even make a lovely warm boot for adults in the winter and as I am in Sweden where it can get to -20 C and deep snow, this is a good thing! I've noticed my arches falling over the past couple of years and wondering what I could do to help that. SO I am happy to find your site, katy! Yes, this is why my arch was always so beautiful. I was a barefooter! I’m less so today, but that’s more due to the crap that is always around on the ground these days. Instead I buy footwear from Soft Star Shoes. They even make a lovely warm boot for adults in the winter and as I am in Sweden where it can get to -20 C and deep snow, this is a good thing!

I’ve noticed my arches falling over the past couple of years and wondering what I could do to help that. SO I am happy to find your site, katy!

]]> By: Katy http://www.katysays.com/2009/07/22/ah-those-golden-arches/comment-page-1/#comment-197 Katy Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:57:04 +0000 http://katysays.com/?p=85#comment-197 Hi Jason, Thanks for just a thoughtful and informative comment! Please share your insights as a KMI practitioner, and I will spend some time checking out your site! Hi Jason,
Thanks for just a thoughtful and informative comment! Please share your insights as a KMI practitioner, and I will spend some time checking out your site!

]]> By: Jason http://www.katysays.com/2009/07/22/ah-those-golden-arches/comment-page-1/#comment-196 Jason Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:26:36 +0000 http://katysays.com/?p=85#comment-196 I am a KMI practitioner / structural integrator, like Rolfing but a different school. We study the mechanics of the “body machine” and ultimately try and bring the body into its most vertical and functional position (in gravity) as possible. We try and correct compensations in the body to reduce strain on the over compensated areas for example the ACL mentioned above. I have been walking barefoot from May till October for 4 years. I recently found a company that most people know, Vibram that makes a five finger shoe. It is the non-shoe, to protect from all the dangers of “sticky outy bits” on the streets. I love the way you write and I think you put the focus and support where it is most needed and forgotten about in peoples lives. It is nice to know someone else on “my side.” I do have one correction to make though with this statement. “A “flat foot” is simply a foot with non-innervated foot and hip musculature.” This statement is not 100% true. We are all born with flat feet some children never develop the arches. (Though that might have to do with what you mentioned above about watching and learning from parents’) If the cuneiform bones do not form into the "keystone" shape the child will always have flat feet no matter what you do to the muscles! So you might want to change “flat foot” to fallen arch or a pronated foot. Below are a few links, if you don’t mind to help expand on these ideas. http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/ (5 finger shoes) http://nymag.com/health/features/46213/ ( An article that relates very close to yours) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structural_Integration (This is about Structural Integration) I am a KMI practitioner / structural integrator, like Rolfing but a different school. We study the mechanics of the “body machine” and ultimately try and bring the body into its most vertical and functional position (in gravity) as possible. We try and correct compensations in the body to reduce strain on the over compensated areas for example the ACL mentioned above. I have been walking barefoot from May till October for 4 years. I recently found a company that most people know, Vibram that makes a five finger shoe. It is the non-shoe, to protect from all the dangers of “sticky outy bits” on the streets. I love the way you write and I think you put the focus and support where it is most needed and forgotten about in peoples lives. It is nice to know someone else on “my side.”

I do have one correction to make though with this statement. “A “flat foot” is simply a foot with non-innervated foot and hip musculature.”

This statement is not 100% true. We are all born with flat feet some children never develop the arches. (Though that might have to do with what you mentioned above about watching and learning from parents’) If the cuneiform bones do not form into the “keystone” shape the child will always have flat feet no matter what you do to the muscles! So you might want to change “flat foot” to fallen arch or a pronated foot.

Below are a few links, if you don’t mind to help expand on these ideas.

http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/ (5 finger shoes)
http://nymag.com/health/features/46213/ ( An article that relates very close to yours)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structural_Integration (This is about Structural Integration)

]]> By: judi keppler http://www.katysays.com/2009/07/22/ah-those-golden-arches/comment-page-1/#comment-34 judi keppler Fri, 31 Jul 2009 03:16:03 +0000 http://katysays.com/?p=85#comment-34 I loved this piece....so am I to understand that this lack of muscle activity is (besides heels), one of the major causes of flat feet? And the exercises on the feet dvd...are these exercises sufficient to restore flat feet or is there another video coming that will address this issue? I loved this piece….so am I to understand that this lack of muscle activity is (besides heels), one of the major causes of flat feet? And the exercises on the feet dvd…are these exercises sufficient to restore flat feet or is there another video coming that will address this issue?

]]> By: Sandy http://www.katysays.com/2009/07/22/ah-those-golden-arches/comment-page-1/#comment-23 Sandy Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:59:15 +0000 http://katysays.com/?p=85#comment-23 Thanks for the great 411, it totally makes sense! Thanks for the great 411, it totally makes sense!

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