Your feet will bring you to where your heart is. – Irish Proverb
Our feet are the workhorses of our bodies yet most of us do not give them enough attention like we do our faces, hair and hands.
It’s so easy to take our feet for granted because they’re just there, putting up with a host of challenges, from being jammed into high heels and elevated to unnatural heights to smothering inside sweaty socks.
While suffering those indignities, our feet take hundreds of tons of force impact just during an average day of walking. Take some time this weekend to pamper your feet. You don’t need an expensive spa treatment to take care of them. Spending just a few minutes a day on foot care and choosing the right shoes can keep you free of problems that may lead to pain and even disability. Here are a few feet-feel-great ideas:
Wash your feet:
Yes! It’s not vanity at all. Make a point to wash your feet – especially between your toes- with a washcloth carefully and regularly. Be sure to dry the feet completely, including between the toes. This wash-and-dry system lessens problems such as athlete’s foot, odor, bacteria and fungus.
Soak your feet:
Try to soak your feet often. Make it a treat. You mustn’t go for Epsom salts as it has been scientifically proven that they’re too drying and don’t offer any medical benefit. Instead, just use warm (not hot) water and a little liquid soap, containing skin softeners.
Moisturize your feet:
If you have very dry skin you may want to moisturize as often as you can. Nothing fancy is needed as basic lotions and creams are fine.
Change your shoes:
Alternate the shoes you wear each day. You may go at length to having two pairs of your favorite everyday styleg. Shoes need time to air out to avoid foot odor or infections. Change socks or stockings on a daily basis. If you have a problem with smelly feet, soak them in a mixture of vinegar and water and have a change of socks or stockings in your bag so you can change once it’s moist.
No tight shoes:
Don’t even manage it. Your feet should not hurt—ever. Tight shoes can worsen bunions, distort toe shape and cause painful foot growths. If you wear high heels, choose heels that are wide, stable and no higher than two inches (if you’re going to be walking in them for long), toe boxes should be wide; pointed toes shouldn’t begin their narrowing shape until well past the ball of the foot. To protect your Achilles tendon from shortening, alternate heel heights regularly.
To keep feet strong and healthy, minimize the amount of time you wear shoes that lack supportive arches.
Pay extra attention when you’re pregnant:
Pregnancy, aging and diabetes all affect your feet. Pregnant women need shoes with broad heels, arch support and good shock absorbency. Added pregnancy weight may cause your shoe size to change, so get your feet measured.
For the Diabetic:
Diabetics can develop serious conditions related to the feet and lower legs. Check feet for any problems daily and see a podiatric physician at least annually.
Choose external pedicure carefully:
Be cautious about having a pedicure in a salon, where cleanliness of tubs and instruments is vital. Be extracareful ladies about where and how you get your toe nails fixed. If you have diabetes, talk with your doctor before having a pedicure.
Never let your feet go unattended again. Use these tips and give your feet the pampering they deserve after all they carry you about.