Our feet carry us everywhere throughout life. Still, many people don’t focus on them until problems arise. Establishing some positive foot care habits can help lower the risk of many common foot issues. Understanding proper footwear fit, nail trimming, hygiene, and more foot care basics allows you to be proactive. Just as important is realizing what actions to avoid that can potentially damage feet.
Check Footwear Fit
- Do: Shop late in the day when feet are most swollen so shoes won’t become too tight later. Have both feet measured since sizes often differ. Thumb width space should remain at the toes when standing. The ball of the foot should align with the widest part of the shoe. Heels should not slide up and down when walking. Shoes should bend easily at the ball of the foot, not midsole. These steps help ensure proper fit, preventing many painful foot problems.
- Don’t: Wear tight, narrow toe box shoes that cramp toes together. This causes corns, blisters, bunions and crooked, overlapping toes over time. High heels over 2 inches also place excess pressure on the ball and toes, leading to pain. Pointy toes pinch and rub causing nerve damage. Ensure adequate width and length in footwear.
Practice Proper Foot Hygiene
- Do: Wash feet daily using gentle soap and lukewarm water. Be sure to dry carefully between the toes where fungi and bacteria thrive. Sprinkle antifungal powder inside shoes to prevent odor and infections and trim toenails straight across to prevent painful ingrown nails. Always wear clean, dry socks that wick moisture and change more frequently if feet sweat heavily.
- Don’t: Soak feet unless directed by your doctor. This dries skin and allows infections to enter cracks. Avoid using harsh soaps or exfoliants that strip protective skin layers and never apply lotion between toes since moisture gets trapped. Preventing drying and cracking with gentle hygiene keeps feet healthiest.
Exercise Feet
- Do: Perform gentle stretching, range of motion, and strengthening foot exercises especially first thing morning. This boosts flexibility and blood circulation, reducing stiffness and pain. Try writing the alphabet with toes, scrunching towels, and tennis ball rolls under arches. Even basic walking provides essential movement we often lack being stationary for long periods.
- Don’t: Progress exercise intensity or duration too rapidly. Overworking feet risks straining tissues leading to micro tears, inflammation and loss of function over time. Heat and ice sore spots afterward if any discomfort arises. Building foot and lower body conditioning steadily allows adaptations to avoid injury.
Address Changes Promptly
- Do: Pay attention to and investigate foot pain, new calluses, color changes, sores not healing promptly, feelings of burning or tingling, numbness, cramping and any other concerning changes. The doctors at Beyond Podiatry say that early reporting facilitates timely diagnosis and foot pain treatment before permanent damage and deformity occurs.
- Don’t: Ignore foot pain thinking discomfort is normal or will just go away. Tolerating inappropriate footwear like high heels or poor fitting shoes because they look nice can risk developing serious problems later. Waiting risks progression to chronic, debilitating pain affecting mobility and independence. Monitoring feet helps maintain an active satisfying lifestyle.
Conclusion
Caring properly for your feet is crucial but easy to overlook in our hurried lives. Setting aside a little time daily focusing on positive foot health habits like proper hygiene, nail care, selecting good footwear and doing some simple foot exercises pays off preventing issues and maintaining comfort. Pay attention to warning signs feet give avoiding problems becoming serious. Show feet some love and keep them happy through establishing excellent foot care routines. Consistent prevention helps feet support activity demands across a lifetime.