Advice for Better Foot Care
Our feet are probably one of the most neglected body parts — if not the most — and we seem to love punishing our feet as much as possible on a daily basis. We sit in awkward positions at our desks resting on the balls of our feet instead of keeping them flat; we buy impossibly fashionable and expensive footwear that look fantastic but pinch and squeeze our feet to death; we put on sneakers and subject our feet to hours of erratic athletic movement…there’s seemingly no end to the torture we’re willing to put our feet through.
If we want to have healthier feet, however, then one important thing we have to do immediately is to understand at least several ways that we can better take care of them. If you’re not sure, below are some tips to get you started:
- Use Footwear Inserts
Buying boots with removable footbeds (and other footwear types) means you can more easily put in things like orthotics and other inserts to help restore the supportive balance around your feet. This in turn can help all kinds of chronic problems like foot, ankle, leg and even lower back pain.
So many people who experience pain in their lower back, thighs, hips, shins, etc., don’t realise that the source of their suffering is in their footwear. In some ways, that makes sense because why would you necessarily connect your back pain with imbalance in your soles. Inserts can restore proper balance, sending shock waves of relief up and down your body as equilibrium returns.
- Wash and Dry Feet Daily
Your feet accumulate all manner of dirt, grime, sweat and other unpleasant substances throughout the day. Don’t forget that for the majority of people, their feet are enclosed within shoes and socks for many hours of each day. This causes them to sweat, and bacteria starts to grow, which is what contributes to foot odour, and so on.
If you haven’t already, invest in a good, massaging foot bath to keep in your home. Fill it up and bathe your feet in it daily, using antibacterial products in the water to help clean away the day’s grime. After washing, dry your feet thoroughly — especially in between your toes — to prevent problems such as Athlete’s foot from occurring.
- Keep Nails Trimmed Straight and Neat
Another common ailment related to feet is that of ingrowing toenails, many of which start from improperly cut nails. When you leave nails cut at jaunty angles and not properly tidied, they grow back at equally strange angles which can lead to them growing inward, or breaking, or becoming subject to a fungal infection. Keeping your nails trimmed and straight-edged will protect against all of these issues.
- Moisturise Your Feet Daily
As sweaty as your feet get during the day, it’s also easy for them to completely dry out after you wash them in warm or hot water. Dry feet can lead to flaky dry skin, which creates other issues. A final step to take once you’ve washed and dried your feet is to moisturise them and ensure that the skin stays supple and smooth. Another good move is to lower the temperature somewhat of the water you wash your feet with.
- Exercise Daily to Maintain Good Circulation
When your feet don’t receive the proper blood circulation that they need, all kinds of problems can follow. As one of your extremities, it’s easy for feet to lose out on circulation, especially when you’re living a sedentary lifestyle as more and more people are. Therefore, getting up out of your office chair, walking around plenty, and getting regular exercise on your feet before and after work will all help to ensure that proper circulation makes it all the way down to your feet.
