Foot Care Tips

Each of our foot contains 28 bones and 35 joints; you'll walk thousands of kilometers each year and accumulate literally tons of pressure on them during your lifetime. Your feet, of course deserve special care and attention.

Go Barefoot

Shoes make your feet weak, so at the end of the day, slip them off and pad around the house barefoot. Not only is it good for he muscles in your feet, it may benefit the whole body. It's been suggested that sitting in motor vehicles and offices surrounded by strong electrical fields messes up the polarity of the human body - walking on damp grass is thought to short-circuit that and reset your body's polarity. Walking on sand or grass not only feels great, it also provides your feet with the kind of support sports-shoe manufacturers aim for.

Roll Away The Tension

A quick way to relax tired feet: Take a couple of golf balls, an old rolling pin, or even an empty beer bottle and roll them underfoot while you sit on a chair. Remember not to put too much weight on the bottle.

Ease Off The Hard Stuff

Not tequila, though that's also a good idea. Use a pumice stone to rub off hardened skin on the sides of your heels. Not only because you want feet that are soft and supple, but because the hardened skin will eventually crack, which can bleed.

Foot Pain Is Not Good

Unsurprisingly, painful feet are a symptom that all is not well. Pain in the ball of the foot is probably caused by something called metatarsalgia. Your metatarsals are a set of bones that run the length of your foot, from your toes to the base of your ankles. Generally they're aligned, but when one drops out of line, the head - that's the big bit near the toes - can become inflamed, and you'll experience a sharp pain. Other reasons for the pain under the ball of the foot include nerves being pinched between the metatarsals and even arthritis. There are little pads of fat that protect the balls of the feet. If the fat pads are compressed, you'll feel pain. Spending some time with your shoes off ought to help ease the pain.

Remedies For Aching Feet

If walking barefoot for a while makes no difference, see a podiatrist about getting custom-made shoe inserts, or try some shoes with extra padding. Another common sort of pain is felt in the heel, usually when you put weight on the foot after sitting or lying down. This is probably the plantar fasciatis - a ribbon of ligament running from your down your heel to the ball of your foot. If it's too tight, you'll experience pain. Apply ice to the area, followed by an anti-inflammatory and try the tip outlined the thing with the mini-bar bottle. Regular use of the bottle - on the foot, not the moin tip no.2, this should help keep the tendon loose and the pain away.

Here's an exercise to ease stiffness all the way from your toes to the backs of your knees. Stand on the edge of a stair, with just your metatarsals on it. Holding on to something for balance, relax until you sink, then push back up gently. Repeat several times.

• Keep Your Toes Happy: The muscles in your toes also need exercise. Simply wiggling your toes will do, as will bathe them in warm water with Epsom salts, then cool water, then applying a rich moisturizing cream.

• Keep Your Nails Trimmed: But don't cut them too short, especially at the edges, where they might dig into the skin and become ingrown. If you do get an ingrown nail, see a doctor.

General Foot Care Tips For All Feet

• Wash your feet daily. Rinse off all soap and dry thoroughly, especially between toes.
• Trim nails straight across, and not too short. Don't cut out or dig at corners.
• Wear clean socks or stockings, changed daily. Don't wear any that are too short or too tight.
• Wear shoes that fit. (See Finding the Right Shoes For You.)
• Some people's feet sweat more than others, and are more prone to athlete's foot. These tips may help:
• Wear shoes made of leather or canvas - not synthetics. Sandals are good.
• Switch shoes from day to day.
• Use foot powder.
• See your doctor if severe problems persist.
• Don't ignore pain. Painful feet are not normal. Many foot conditions can be cured if you visit a chiropodist as early as possible.
• Wash your feet daily in warm soapy water. Do not soak the feet as this may cause them to become excessively dry.
• Dry your feet thoroughly, especially in between the toes.
• Apply moisturizing cream all over the feet, except in between the toes.

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