Just like any other part of your body, your feet need to be well taken care of and maintained so as to be healthy and allow mobility. The presence of muscles, bones, nerves, and tendons makes them a very delicate part of your body. You need your feet to walk, run and even move around. Because your feet are imperative to your ability to get around, here are 5 tips to caring for your feet.
Regularly exercise them
To ensure that the nerves, tendons and muscles in your feet are properly functioning, you need to exercise your feet every once in a while. Don’t just sit in one place and expect your feet to stay healthy. Whenever you can, try and take a walk to stretch your ligaments and strengthen them.
Ensure high levels of hygiene
Maintain high levels of hygiene in every part of your body including your feet. Wash them every day and every time they get dirty. This removes any sweat or accumulated moisture that builds up from frequently wearing of closed shoes. Excess moisture in the feet can cause bacteria to build up, especially in between your toes leading to foot odor and infections.
Focus on the areas between your toes as well as the soles of your feet when washing. Get pumice stone or find a brush that you can use to scrub off any dead skin, and prevent cracking of your feet. After washing, ensure that you dry your feet thoroughly. Any overgrown toenails should be cut.
Wear comfortable shoes
When picking out shoes to wear, ensure that the shoes are comfortable and not too tight. Shoes that are too tight can result in corns, blisters and foot pain. Choose shoes with shoe inserts and those with a material that soaks in moisture. Wear shoes that fit and also allow some fresh air in. If you must wear heels, ensure that the heel is not too high to avoid discomfort. Find the best shoes and shoe insoles at the Tool Report.
Avoid leaving them too dry
After washing your feet, always apply some Vaseline or oil to prevent them from cracking. This is important, especially during cold weather when your feet dry up fast. Rub some oil to your feet daily to avoid scaling. This will leave them feeling soft. If you live in hot climatic regions, once in a while wear sandals that allow free circulation of air.
Wear socks
Cover your feet by wearing heavy socks that keep them warm as well as prevent them from drying up fast. When worn with shoes, socks reduce the chances of developing blisters and calluses. Change the socks as often as possible to keep your feet fresh and prevent foot odor, especially if your feet sweat a lot. When you are running, jogging, doing yoga or any other type of sport, make sure to wear some sports socks.
Caring for your feet is not a matter to be overlooked, especially for the elderly. As people age, the feet become less active and the skin thins. Joints also start stiffening and you become more sensitive to cold. It is recommended that to reduce any chances of developing foot problems, you take good care of your feet at an early age.