Your feet were made for walking and that’s just what they’re going to do. That’s why it’s important to understand and know what to wear on your feet during exercise while pregnant. We have talked before about how to dress your bump during exercise but now let’s take a closer look at what happens to your feet during pregnancy and how to find the right footwear for your workouts.
Where is all of this weight coming from?
Your feet are growing and this isn’t necessarily due to weight gain. It’s more likely the result of that 40 percent increase in blood and body fluids moving through you and causing tissues to swell.(1) In addition, your uterus is now large enough to press on the veins through your pelvic area, slowing down blood flow in your lower body. Your feet might expand to fill an extra shoe size by the end of your pregnancy. In addition, the hormone relaxin causes your arch to loosen and spread your feet.
So, what can you do about it?
In terms of footwear for exercise:
- Buy a pair of sneakers that are up to one size bigger than your pre pregnancy size.
- Make sure that you have good ankle and arch support to help with loosened joints.
- Make sure there is good non stick tread to your sneakers to help avoid slips and falls.
- You may want to consider a good pair of sneakers that you don’t have to tie. Your feet are really far away….
After spending an entire day on your feet, a good shoe can alleviate some of the pain in your legs and back. While you may have to invest a little in a new pair of sneakers, the benefits outweigh the cost. Being comfortable during exercise can help motivate you to continue through your entire pregnancy.
For more tips or if you have a specific question, contact us!
References:
- “Common Discomforts of Pregnancy”. Accessed 14, December 2015. Sutter Health. http://www.cpmc.org/services/pregnancy/information/discomforts.html
2. Image courtesy of artur84 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
