Omaha daily bee., 1916-05-23
Hon. We
Impose ON
Our Feet
By WOODS HUTCHINSON, M D.


"flump" too much, and walk far tor
heavily ON our heels, with our toes turned
out. To hear some people walk you
would think they had briekhas sus-
pended from their ankles with string I'M
stead Of feet, or were dropping nat
iron on the pavement every thirty incnes'
When we are doing that strenuous aero
batic balancing stunt known as stand
ing still, having only two feet our frm'
est and stsadiest stand can be got either
by setting our feet well apart Ike
wrestler, or, failing this. turning ouf
toes out as widely as possible, As sprad'
ding wide loks undignified. we hold IN
our head. turn out our toes. throw our
shoulders back. and are very proud Of
our dignifed and spirited pose. But we
should never forget that this head-erect.
chest-out like pouter pigeon. attitude.
though harmless In moderation, Is only
a pose and should not be kept up for
more than a few minutes a. a time. The
worst OF II Is. we are so pleaSed with
our appearance that We try to put this
pose on wheels and galyanize ourselves
into a walk in this solhlerly, rsmrod-like
attitude. and then We begin 10 get into
trouble at once.
For the purpose Of brief parade down
Main street, this heads-up. shoulders.
back. toes-out gait "a great mental eK-
hilaration and harmless in moderation,
but We 40 not breathe any better. al
though we seem 70 expand our lungs
more, and our circulation, as French and
English army surgeons discovered years
ago. is Numbered instead Of being linz
proved. and we punish our feet fearfuly
Because every step means "sodging" Our
whole weight upon the heel with the
arch Of the foot turned out and then
rocking over and pitching Off from the
broad side OF the foot again. strainins
every tendon and ilgament IN IT, Rssi
nents on the march are now instructed
10 strut erect through the towns, but as
soon AZ they strike the open country TO
bend their knees, turn in their toes, lea
head and shoulders forward. swing the
arms loosely at the sides with elbows
turned out. and literally wade over the
dusty road.
We seem unable 10 get away from tho
notion that the things which are hardest
TO do are the ones that are best for us.
Hence, we insist ourselves and we train
our children to always turn out the toes
and hold back tho shoulders when walk
ing, and above all, that to turn toes in
under any circumstances lie one Of tho
seven deadly sins. As matter Of fact
more than hnlf our walking should he
done with the toes turned in.
We should follow tho example Of the
soldiers. and when We are walking down
The principal streets and more or less IN
the public eye, In our imagination ut
least. out 10 give the girls (or boys) q
treat" as the saying IT, assume delib
crate, parade-like gait, with toes out and
head up. But even this pose ought TO bs
relaxed frequently. as by gazing in at
shop windows, or bowling or leaning for
ward to speak to our friends The gait
would be not only difficult but danger
Gus anywhere except upon good side.
walks or smooth. level surfaces
When you turn into a side street lr
reach the open part Of town and start 20
hurry bit you will find that Il is prae-
tically impossible TO make any speed
with your toes turned out, save at risk
Of breaking your feet or falling over
them.
You must shoot the foot almost straight
forward and turn the toe IN at the end
Of your stride as soon az you begin T.
make speed.
This is perfectly right and proper and
should not be fought against in any wAy.
because our feet when we are walking
AT INV vaaaonabIa uVanA do 49, 49,,
straight forward and In straight parallel
lines, but in q series Of bow-shapeI
curves, or long. graceful "waddles," some
thing like the strokes In skating. only
the curves turn In AT the end instead Of
outward
II is not correct to say that some pes.
pie turn out their toes when they walk
and others turn them in We all d.
both, except those Of us who are so un-
fortunate as to be permanently pigeon
toed according to the rate at which we
are going,
Out, when we are walking slowly and
formally; In, when we are hiking or
running Indeed, except in very lelsurely
walking. We toe ont al the beginning II
each stride and in the end OF II.
The main practical point is, take enough
Of this hesd-up and shoulders back walk.
ing to give you an erect figure and grace.
full carriage, say a mile or two a dav
But don't try 10 carry II beyond that AMI
don't fight against the forward-leaning.
arm and leg swinging, skating" stri 70
that comes natural when you want TO
really get somewhere and cover the
ground
You must lean forward II YOU want 10
hit the trail" 70 any purpose. t,r thu
same reason that the bicycls-racsr a
ways does. 70 SET your center Of gray
nv a. far In front as possible
Watkins and SIN more 50 running. Is
simply falling forward and catching your
self before son lose your balanes and
rspeat the figure And you must Ire H.,
At the end Of your stride 90 aa m strts
the ground with the vhole outer attic of
your foot AZ aute as nearly as nossltts
instead n coming bump on the heel
alone