B.A.S.S. – Balance. agility. strength. stretching

The BEACH B.A.S.S
Week 1 - Fabulous Feet

By natalie Kaebisch

Start with a quick check

This term we are beginning with the parts of the body that interact most directly with the world around us. We are starting with the feet, before working our way through the rest of the body and finishing the term with the hands.

This week, the focus is on your whole foot.

Before thinking about strength or flexibility, take a moment to notice how your feet are meeting the ground. Can you feel pressure through the ball of the foot, the inside and outside of the heel? Does one foot feel different from the other? Do you tend to load more through your forefoot, your heel or one side?

This awareness gives us a starting point for improving movement, strength and control.

Why this matters

Your feet are one of the first places your body manages force from the ground.

When the feet and ankles can sense the ground, move well and share load efficiently, they provide a useful platform for the rest of the body. This can help the muscles around your hips, abdomen, back and shoulders stay more adaptable rather than working harder than they need to.

When an area is doing more than its fair share, those muscles can fatigue more quickly and this may contribute to tension or discomfort.

So if your back often feels tight or tired, it can be worth asking a different question. Is your back not strong enough, or is it being asked to do too much because other areas are not sharing the load?

Your feet are one part of that bigger picture.

What to do now

Take your shoes off and stand comfortably.

Notice how the pressure feels under each foot. Compare left to right, then heel to forefoot. You may notice more pressure through one side, very little contact in another area, or that one foot feels quite different from the other.

There is no need to correct anything straight away. The first step is simply to notice what your feet are doing.

If you want to track it, mark the areas where you feel the most pressure on a simple foot diagram and repeat the same check later in the term.

Then watch Anna-Louise take you through this week’s Beach B.A.S.S. and explore how balance, agility, strength and stretch can all help your feet become more capable.

Some feet need more stability. Others need more movement. The aim is not one “perfect” foot position, but a foot that can sense the ground, adapt and share the work with the rest of your body.

That matters when you are walking on uneven ground, changing direction, climbing stairs or simply standing for longer without other areas feeling as though they have to work overtime.

Final cue: Find your footprint.

CHECK IN

If you think you would like to see your Physio one-on-one to check in on how you are going, you can click here and book online