Dress and care of the feet /

by John Lord Peck

There are many movements of the Light Gymnastics that for weak ankles would be highly beneficial. It would be well, where there is an opportunity, to adopt all those movements in which the muscles of the feet are called into play such as charging, leaning, bracing, springing on the toes, and, in short, almost the whole routine of exercises; and to practice them, cautiously at first, but thoroughly, until the muscles and ligaments become strong enough to do their duty in bracing up the foot without any assistance.

There are many feet in which the toes turn inward in walking—a habit which may be easily corrected by a little care and perseverance, and the subject of it enabled to go on his way rejoicing in the knowledge that he has gained a respectable walk in place of one that was ridiculously awkward. All that is required to change the habit is to develope the strength of the muscles by calling them into exercise. An every-day practice of turning the feet outward as far as possible, for a few minutes at a time, will do a great deal. If, in addition to this, the step is constantly watched, the toes being kept turned out until the muscles are tired, and then, after resting by a return to the old step, the toes are again forced outward, and this is repeated continuously for a few weeks, the awkwardness will be entirely gone. The practice of light gymnastics is a good corrective for this fault; and the dancing-school is another equally excellent. It is to be hoped that both of them will have their due influence in this respect, till an ungraceful walk is far less common than it is now. With such easy means of correcting and avoiding these faults, any one who will not make a little effort for that purpose, deserves, to say the least, a good share of ridicule.[7]

There is a less number of feet that are turned too much outward, and these can be brought into their right place by the same means directed in the opposite way. The only trouble with them usually is a habit, or a weakness of particular muscles. If the toes are turned in, and perseveringly kept so for a short time, a great difference will be discovered. A further continuance in well-doing will bring its reward in an easy, natural, and graceful step.

Those feet that are wholly turned, or deformed by being drawn up at the heel or toe, and those impaired by disease of the structure, are cases belonging to the surgeon and physician. Many of them might probably have been prevented by calling in the surgeon’s aid during the childhood of the unfortunate possessor. Let us hope that few who can be saved from such disfigurement will be allowed to suffer from it through ignorance or culpable negligence in the future.

FOOTNOTES:

[6] Another reason for care in guarding against weak ankles is thus given in a work upon the “Theory and Practice of the Movement-Cure,” by Dr. Charles F. Taylor.

“Weak ankles, often the result of the ungraceful, and, in other respects, pernicious fashion of wearing high, narrow-heeled shoes, straining them by their rolling about, etc., may be the exciting cause of lateral curvature of the spine. The weaker ankle is generally the left, and the individual soon forms the habit of standing on the right foot. The lower portion of the spine is thrown to the left, and the dorsal portion necessarily thrown to the right.” In another place he repeats: “We find that almost without exception, in curvature to the right, the left ankle is much weaker than the other. Movements of the foot must be employed, such as inward and outward flexion, twisting the whole leg from the hip, and many others, calculated to strengthen the left leg, hip, and ankle.”

[7] As a matter not wholly out of place, it may be said that the graceful walker stands upright, and in taking a step uses the muscles and joints of the hip, the knee, and the toes. Many people use the toes but very little, and their step lacks spring, elasticity, life, and grace; while others do not use the muscles in front of the hip enough, and their walk has no dignity. Instead of swinging the whole leg, they seem as though kicking their feet along ahead of them, swinging only that half of it below the knee. Stiff coverings on the feet, or very high heels under them, effectually prevent all gracefulness in walking.

CHAPTER VIII.

Corns, Bunions, and Callosities—How they Originate—Nature of the Skin—Various Causes of Corns—How to Remove Them—Quotations from the Medical Books—Nature and Treatment of Bunions.