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Use Your Feet to Keep Your Feet

Use Your Feet to Keep Your Feet

While struggling to run with peripheral artery disease (PAD), I discovered the value of strengthening my feet, especially for effective toe and foot flexion. Imagine gripping the ground with your toes - toe flexion. Imagine gripping the ground with your whole foot - foot flexion. Flexing my "little" toes: second toe, or "long toe,” third toe, or "middle toe,” fourth toe, or "ring toe,” and the fifth toe, or ... Read more

Keep Your Feet With Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) or Diabetes

Keep Your Feet With Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) or Diabetes

Multiple medical professionals, even using ultrasound, have failed to find a pulse in my right foot, and the left one is weak. This is due to blockage of my popliteal arteries as a result of arteriosclerosis consequent to a severe genetic hypertriglyceridemia.. So I explored ways to improve blood flow to, through, and back from, my feet, using the basic anatomy and physiology of the human foot. My background in ... Read more

Never Too Late To Train For Aging

Never Too Late To Train For Aging

Need encouragement to exercise mind and body? If so, head to this link, for inspirational self help books. OR Buy the book, at this link: This book was designed specifically for inspiration. To help people overcome resistance to getting off their duff and getting moving. It's even a little poetic, as I attempt the more emotional approach to getting these ideas across. Have fun, as life is to brief ... Read more

80 Year Old Triathlete Represents America In The 2023 World Half-Ironman Championships

As an "English American," I was surprised to be so pleased to have the American flag against my name in these race results, but America has been extremely generous to me. You have to work to enjoy this country, but with a little luck you have a chance to do well. In a way, I feel both American and English. I came in after the 8:30 cutoff, but the race officials insisted on giving me a medal. Maybe this is ... Read more

Wake Up Your Feet In The Pool For Peripheral Arterial Disease Therapy

Wake Up Your Feet In The Pool For Peripheral Arterial Disease Therapy

To watch this on Instagram, click this link. I use this exercise to improve my swim, and encourage better blood flow in my feet for my pain in the ass peripheral arterial disease. This strengthens and relaxes your feet, done right. It's basically a simple swim kick, toes pointed. I use bare feet, along with a more interesting workout than just standing in the water, with my mouth just clearing the surface. If ... Read more

Clawing My Way Up Hill Repeats With Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

Clawing My Way Up Hill Repeats With Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

It is possible to fight peripheral arterial disease using intense exercise, aka training. I do this by training for Ironman races. Currently, half Ironman distance is the best I can do, but I did make third in my age group at the World Half Ironman Championships in Lahti, Finland, a few weeks ago. Here's my finish photo by FinisherPix (thank you). I missed the 8:30 cutoff, but they kept the course open for ... Read more

Notes on Peripheral Arterial Disease Running Progress: No Socks No Corns

Notes on Peripheral Arterial Disease Running Progress: No Socks No Corns

Foot corns (local hyperkeratosis due to friction and/or pressure) don't look like much, but they are hell to run on. I struggled to fix those corns through running technique, which helped a little, then, for unrelated reasons (wet gear) I tried no socks, and those corns melted away in a week. Damn those corns hurt like crap, making the run hell, and now I had another problem to deal with. Corns. A brand new ... Read more

Peripheral Arterial Disease Running Puzzle Continues: Muscles of the Feet!

Peripheral Arterial Disease Running Puzzle Continues: Muscles of the Feet!

Image purchased with copyright from ShutterStock, Inc. Hi folks, I continue my research into the challenge of running with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), as my right popliteal artery is almost completely blocked, and the other one is starting to induce claudication when I run or walk uphill. My right foot is essentially running on collaterals built over a lifetime of training, including the last 20 odd ... Read more

Disclaimer: As a veterinarian, I do not provide medical advice for human animals. If you undertake or modify an exercise program, consult your medical advisors before doing so. Undertaking activities pursued by the author does not mean that he endorses your undertaking such activities, which is clearly your decision and responsibility. Be careful and sensible, please.