The Canaries Are Singing
Canaries were taken into coal mines to warn miners about dangerous levels of methane and other gases. The photo above shows the last canary taken down a coal mine.
Most teenagers have flat feet these days. They are destined to be adults with early aging also known as early senescence. They will age rapidly and feel the pains of aging like no generation before. The exploding incidence of teenagers with flat feet is a sign of coming health disasters.
Things have changed in the last fifty years. Teenagers today walk primarily on hard, flat surfaces. They spend a large part of the day sitting. They walk less and drive more. Younger teenagers are less likely to be unsupervised and out of their houses after school and on weekends. Schools provide less and less physical education.
Modern influences on teenagers affects the way weight travels from the spine, through the pelvis, thighs and legs to the feet. Tightness of muscles, tendons and ligaments of the lower back, pelvis and lower extremities leads to restrictions of hip motion. With each step the hip should position itself over the arch of the foot. When soft tissue structures are tight, hip movement is restricted and the hip directs weight to the the inside of the foot. This leads to weight falling on the inside of the foot slowly crushing the arch, leading to flat feet.
Flat feet are associated with knee and back pain with development of arthritis over time. Spinal mobility restriction is also associated with decreased circulation of cerebrospinal fluid that can cause fatigue and depression in the short term and dementia over the long term.
Modern life is not necessarily conducive to healthy human mobility and good health. The very high incidence of flat feet is one indicator of a growing wave of health issues.
Walking, Yoga and other similar activities are an antidote to modern life. iHeart goiheart.com is a simple tool to measure and monitor stiffness along the spinal axis affecting internal organ circulation, organ function, health and longevity. iHeart allows people to see the effects of simple but powerful positive lifestyle choices.
