Three Lessons Barbie™ Can Teach Us About Keeping Our Feet Happy And Healthy
Jaap Buitendijk
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Unless you don’t own a computer or cell phone, you have probably heard the hype around the summer blockbuster "Barbie," starring Margot Robbie as the beloved icon and Ryan Gosling as the famous Ken. If you are reading this, it might be for one of several reasons.
- You just love Barbie and read all things Barbie.
- You are trying to understand how on earth a doll whose feet are forever locked in a pointed position without any heel purchase could possibly teach you anything about foot health.
- You are like me and read everything that can help people have happy and healthier feet.
If you grew up playing with Barbie dolls, there are probably a few things you remember fondly. Maybe it’s her ability to accessorize with numerous outfits and accessories like shoes, or her super awesome Dream House, or her comically small feet stretched out into a pointed-toe stance. You might be thinking "Barbie can't teach us anything about happy and healthy feet," but let's at least try.
Lesson No. 1: Wearing The Same Shoe Every Day Can Have Several Negative Consequences.
If the shoe is ill-fitting or not very supportive, frequent everyday use can lead to painful foot problems. Examples are heel pain called plantar fasciitis from poor support, painful nerve lesions called neuromas in tight shoes and progressive conditions like that painful bump by the great toe called a bunion if constantly wearing those pointed shoes.
There's also the funk! I'm not talking about the band Earth, Wind & Fire or Parliament, I am talking about foot odor. Wearing the same shoe every day increases the growth of fungus and harmful bacteria that can lead to food odor, athlete's foot and fungal toenails. I don't remember any commercials for "Foot Fungus Barbie."
Wearing high heels every day can also lead to a condition called equines, also known as tight calves. Tight calves will cause heel pain, achilles tendinitis, pain in the ball of the foot and increases risk to get painful bunions.
Lesson No. 2: Always Wear Shoes.
As stated earlier, Barbie's feet are not normally shaped. They are tiny and pointed, and are probably better suited for aerating your front lawn than walking.
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This made it necessary for her to always wear shoes just to stand, even on the floors of her Malibu Dream House. Here in Texas, almost everyone has wood, tile or concrete floors in their homes, surfaces that your feet are not too fond of. I think we can all agree we were not designed to walk on these surfaces, so wear house slippers or sandals to reduce risk of repetitive stress injury to your feet. Your feet will thank you.
Lesson No. 3: A Healthy Diet And Active Lifestyle Can Help Lead To A Happy Life
Now, it is no secret that Barbie’s body does not meet the criteria for a realistic life goal. Her proportions are so off that it has been stated that she probably would not be able to support her head.
With that being said, almost every commercial for Barbie includes her doing something active. I don’t recall seeing commercials for Couch Potato Barbie, or a Video Gamer Barbie, or worse, Fast Foodie Barbie.
While it is often not stated in the office, obesity and being overweight is one of the biggest contributing factors to foot pain. It makes perfect sense that excess weight can lead to foot problems. Even more concerning with obesity is combing weight issues with an inactive lifestyle is the onset of Type 2 diabetes.
While Type 2 diabetes can occur due to genetic factors, the No. 1 cause in America is the obesity epidemic.
Diabetes has numerous complications that can affect the feet. Diabetes can lead to conditions that include but are not limited to nerve damage leading to numbness and chronic pain, vascular disease of arteries and veins, wounds on the feet, wound infections, and potential toe or leg amputation. Even a terrible disorder called Charcot foot can occur that causes the foot to deform and eventually can lead to sores and amputations as well.
For those of you that saw the Barbie movie, I hoped you laughed and reminisced on all those great childhood memories. There is even a great scene that discusses those crazy feet of hers that will make you laugh.
Besides the feel-good message of empowerment that the film provides, I hope you take away a sense that even though life isn’t perfect, there are little things you can do to make it a happy and healthy life, even for your feet.
Our motto here at FAANT is “We are here for your Feet, wherever they may take you.” That motto follows Barbie's active lifestyle because we believe life is best lived when you are able to do the activities you love. Let's not let foot pain prevent you from enjoying it.
Visit one of our locations today!
2421 Ira E Woods Ave., Suite 100, Grapevine
816 Keller Pkwy., Suite 101, Keller
