Your feet are probably the last part of your body you think about --
until they start hurting. They're too important to overlook, though:
With some 26 bones and a complex framework of muscles, tendons and
ligaments, your feet absorb the impact of your full body weight with
every step, keeping you balanced and upright in the process.
The problems that can afflict your feet are numerous. Foot odor, cracked skin, fallen arches, corns, ingrown toenails, fungal infections and even damaged bones can cause discomfort and reduced mobility. While some of these problems are congenital, you can avoid many of them with a little TLC. If that wasn't enough of an incentive, all of these problems tend to worsen as we age, so if foot care doesn't seem important now, it will be.
The best way to keep your feet healthy is a simple regimen of daily care that will help keep the skin, bones and muscles of your feet functioning properly. Here are five foot care steps you can use every day.
The problems that can afflict your feet are numerous. Foot odor, cracked skin, fallen arches, corns, ingrown toenails, fungal infections and even damaged bones can cause discomfort and reduced mobility. While some of these problems are congenital, you can avoid many of them with a little TLC. If that wasn't enough of an incentive, all of these problems tend to worsen as we age, so if foot care doesn't seem important now, it will be.
The best way to keep your feet healthy is a simple regimen of daily care that will help keep the skin, bones and muscles of your feet functioning properly. Here are five foot care steps you can use every day.
Those heels are fine for the office, but you may want to try some flats after work.
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Wearing the wrong shoes can affect many aspects of foot health.
First, your shoes must fit. Shoes that fit too tightly can cause hammer
toe, corns, ingrown toenails and general foot pain. Overly large shoes
prevent your heel from settling in the proper place as you walk, causing
blisters and calluses, sore heels and excessive shoe wear. Remember
that your feet "stretch out" late in the day, so go shoe shopping after
work, when your feet are at their largest. You might gain a half size as
you age as well, so your usual size from 10 years ago might not be your
correct size today.
Some shoes are bad for your feet even if they fit properly. Wearing high heels frequently can cause damage to the bones of the foot. They're fine every once in a while, but you should find a comfortable pair of flat-soled sneakers for everyday wear.
You should also look for the right materials. Synthetics tend not to breathe well, trapping heat and moisture. Natural materials like leather and cotton will keep your feet cooler and release moisture; athletic shoes with special materials or mesh work even better. At the same time, though, you can't really avoid foot sweat. However, you can try to alternate your shoes, so that the pair you wore yesterday has a chance to dry out completely before you wear them again.
Some shoes are bad for your feet even if they fit properly. Wearing high heels frequently can cause damage to the bones of the foot. They're fine every once in a while, but you should find a comfortable pair of flat-soled sneakers for everyday wear.
You should also look for the right materials. Synthetics tend not to breathe well, trapping heat and moisture. Natural materials like leather and cotton will keep your feet cooler and release moisture; athletic shoes with special materials or mesh work even better. At the same time, though, you can't really avoid foot sweat. However, you can try to alternate your shoes, so that the pair you wore yesterday has a chance to dry out completely before you wear them again.
This might seem counterintuitive, since walking puts stress on your
feet. The muscles in your feet are just like any other muscles -- they
need exercise to stay strong. You can't really lift weights with your
foot muscles, so the best way to exercise them is to just take a walk.
It doesn't have to be a long walk, but taking one every day will keep
those muscles firm and keep your tendons and ligaments flexible. That
can prevent fallen arches later in life. And your dog will thank you for
it.
If walking causes sore legs or feet, there are a couple of
extra steps you can take to improve the problem. Arch support inserts
can keep your feet in the proper position to support your weight during
walking. Many stores have special measurement devices that will tell you
which type of support is right for your foot. If you've been doing a
lot of walking on pavement, your feet might not be up to the impact. Try
walking on grass, dirt or a soft cinder track for added cushioning.
Of course, make sure you wear those breathable, well-fitted shoes when you walk.
Forgetting to wash your feet in the shower can lead to a host of other foot problems.
Marili Forastieri/Getty Images
Even the most conscientious and clean person among us skips washing
his or her feet in the shower every now and then. It can be a pain. It's
really important to the health of your feet, though.
Your feet spend most of every day trapped inside a pair of shoes. All the moisture and sweat provides fertile ground for bacteria to grow, and the spaces between your toes are even more hospitable for bacteria and fungi. When you don't wash your feet, you're letting that stuff accumulate from day to day. That leads to unpleasant foot odor -- and eventually to fungal infections and other skin problems.
You don't need a special foot wash to clean your feet. Just make sure you give them a thorough soaping, especially between your toes. After your shower, it's equally important to dry your feet (between the toes again) to prevent trapped moisture from letting all that bacteria hang around. Foot powder can keep them dryer longer, too.
Your feet spend most of every day trapped inside a pair of shoes. All the moisture and sweat provides fertile ground for bacteria to grow, and the spaces between your toes are even more hospitable for bacteria and fungi. When you don't wash your feet, you're letting that stuff accumulate from day to day. That leads to unpleasant foot odor -- and eventually to fungal infections and other skin problems.
You don't need a special foot wash to clean your feet. Just make sure you give them a thorough soaping, especially between your toes. After your shower, it's equally important to dry your feet (between the toes again) to prevent trapped moisture from letting all that bacteria hang around. Foot powder can keep them dryer longer, too.
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