Your feet are the foundation of the whole body. If they are not healthy and given the attention that they need, it can cause a lot of damage to the overall health of other parts as well.
Regular walking, standing, jumping, and running can cause a lot of damage to the feet and can be hard on them as well. This is why this guide to taking care of feet will come in handy.
You have to watch out for overusing your feet, choosing shoes that do not fit that great, and even some of your genetic factors that can lead to disorders and injuries to the foot, affecting how much you can move around as well.
These foot issues can be painful and may make you more susceptible to accidents as well. In order to avoid some of these issues, you need to take care of your feet and provide them with some of the love and care that they need.
Why Do I Need to Take Care of My Feet?
Not only should you take care of some of the skin on the feet, but also watch how much you use them, pick out the right shoes, and even consider orthotics and insoles to keep the feet happy and healthy.
When you ignore your feet and don’t provide them with some of the care they need, you will feel pain and discomfort and will increase your chance of having an injury and a lot of damage. But if you follow the necessary tips and take good care of your feet, they will carry you through your life.
How to Take Care of Your Feet
There are a number of steps that you can choose to help give your feet the very best. You want your feet to last for a long time, but it is hard to do that if you ignore them. Some of the ways that you can take good care of your feet overall include
#1 A good Pair of Shoes is an Essential Part of Taking Care of Feet
One of the first things that you should consider when protecting your feet is to get a good pair of shoes. If you have a pair of shoes that is not that great and seem to provide no support, this can cause a lot of damage to the feet overall.
Look for a pair of shoes that provide a good deal of support. You do not want them to be too tight, but you also do not want the foot to slide around inside the shoe and start to rub either.
It is best to opt for a pair of shoes that will provide additional support, such as arch support and heel support, to help make your feet feel good when you are walking around.
#2 Allowing Your Feet To Rest Is A Good Way To Care For Them
You need to make sure that your feet will be able to get some rest on occasion when you can. If you are on your feet all day long, they will wear out and start to feel pain as time goes on.
When you have a break, take the time to sit down to give them a little rest. And consider elevating them a bit when you get home to make them feel a little better too.
#3 Stretching is Essential Useful Footcare Advice
The right stretches for the foot will do wonders for providing some of the relief that you need. When you do foot and ankle, and even leg, stretches and exercises, you will easily strengthen the muscles of that area of the body.
This makes them better able to handle some of the things you throw at them and can make injuries less likely.
#4 Ice is Good for Caring for Your Feet
In addition to putting your feet up and maybe considering some of the different pain relievers that are out there, you may want to put some ice on the area of the foot that seems to be the most affected. This can help dull the pain that you feel while also reducing the inflammation and swelling that you feel at the same time.
You do not need to leave the ice on the area for very long. 10 to 15 minutes a few times a day is often enough to help when you have some pain in the feet. You do not need to do more than that.
#5 Consider Pain Killers Occasionally Can Take Care of Your Feet
When you have pain on occasion, it may be worth your time to consider a pain reliever. Go with some of the NSAID varieties since these can help with some of the pain and swelling that you experience.
You will not want to take these on a daily basis because this just masks the problem, but occasional foot pain can get some relief from this option.
#6 Your Feet Will Feel Better With Custom Orthotics
If you need to be on your feet for many hours of the day, you need to walk around for your job, or you are an athlete or a runner, you may find that the other options are not going to provide you the same relief that they can for some other patients. When this sounds right for you, it may be time to consider a pair of custom orthotics instead.
Custom orthotics can be made to fit the exact shape and unique features of your foot. You will get these made at your doctor’s office and it includes a full exam, a gait analysis, and a 3D scan or a mold of your foot before all that information is sent in to make the medical device. You can then just slide it into your shoes to get the relief right away.
Custom orthotics can be used for a lot of foot conditions. Whether you are dealing with pain and discomfort, you need some extra support for long hours on your feet, or you want to absorb some of the shocks when running, these can work well.
Some will use it to provide alignment support, to help with diabetic foot, and to avoid pain from conditions like plantar fasciitis.
Taking Good Care of Your Feet
The health of your feet can carry you through many events in life. When you ignore your feet, you will find that they can cause pain and discomfort to many aspects of your body.
Fixing some of these issues through supportive footwear, good orthotics, rest, and more will help keep the feet healthy. Take our free quiz to help determine what type of orthotics will be best for you.
When you are ready to see whether custom orthotics are the right solution for you, give us a call or email us your questions so we can get you started on your journey to healthier feet, and a happier life.