Beach walking and foot stability

A long walk on the beach might sound relaxing, however your feet and legs may not agree! We need to make sure we protect our feet as much as we can when walking on sand, due to the instability of sand as it changes underfoot once we stand on it. The feet need to re-adjust constantly to ensure we stay upright, and the major muscles in our lower legs are having to work hard to support the feet and ankles.  Walking barefoot on the beach requires our small foot muscles (we have four layers of muscles under the foot!), and our larger leg muscles to work hard, and sometimes this is difficult for our body to cope with. The tiny intrinsic muscles at the bottom of our feet can quickly get fatigued and easily injured. Beach walking requires stability, and sometimes the normal aging process can affect our balance and proprioception. If not careful, injuries such as heel pain, calf strains, and pain in the lower back can occur. Here are three ways you can reduce the risk of injury from beach walking and continue to enjoy what the Sunshine Coast has to offer: 1 – Walk on the harder sand rather than the softer sand for more stability. 2 – Wear running shoes to maximise stability and minimise foot strain. 3 – Stretch your calf muscles before and after a walk on the sand to ensure good flexibility.  Your calf muscles can fatigue easily in sand, which can overwork the foot muscles causing pain. Look after your feet to ensure you enjoy many more walks in the future!