ways to keep your feet happy and healthy
TRANSCRIPT
Ways to Keep Your Feet Happy and Healthy
No one really pays attention to their feet until they start to hurt. Anyone who suffers from regular
foot pain or discomfort can tell you how much trouble it can be, causing everything from bad
moods to missing work and time with friends and family.
To keep your feet healthy and happy, you need to provide them with the care and support they
need to function properly and avoid injury. Some of the things you can do to promote foot health
include:
Massage the bottom of your foot – One of the most common foot complaints is heel
pain. Pain in the bottom of the foot can come from standing for long periods, wearing
worn down shoes, or from a condition called plantar fasciitis, which causes the
connective tissue in the bottom of the feet to swell. One way to quickly alleviate pain in
the heel or the bottom of the feet is to massage them, which you can do yourself by
rubbing an ice-cold water bottle, golf ball, or other round object under your foot.
Ice your Achilles tendon – If you get regular pain in your Achilles tendon (the tendon
that connects the bottom of the foot to the back of the leg), it's likely because you have
swelling or inflammation in the area. Icing the Achilles for 15-20 minutes a day can
relieve some of the swelling and reduce some of the pain.
Support your arches – Pain in the arches of the feet can be a serious problem, especially
if it becomes chronic or leads to other injuries Buy arch support pads for your shoes to
make sure they remain supported and shift some of the weight and strain of standing and
walking to other areas of the feet.
Loosen your shoelaces – Some people get pain in their ankles or in the tops of their feet
after wearing shoes. If you're one of those people, try skipping a few of the top eyelets
when lacing up your shoes to reduce the amount of pressure being put on the top of the
foot.
Soak your feet – Soaking your feet in warm, soapy water cleans the skin of germs,
bacteria, and fungus, and can loosen tension in the muscles and ligaments. All of these
things lead to better foot health and a decrease in pain.
Trim your toenails straight across – Many people trim their toenails in a curved
pattern. It's better to trim them straight across, however, as curved toenails are more
likely to become ingrown. Trimming them straight across allows for more even growth.
Don't trim toenails too far down- Toenails should never be trimmed too far down, or
they may grow back incorrectly. When cutting your toenails, you should only be able to
see a few millimeters of skin past the nail.
Do stretches – Sometimes the best thing you can do to reduce foot pain is to go for a
walk or do daily stretches. Just like every other collection of muscles, the ones in your
feet need to be worked out, toned, and used regularly to stay healthy. Walking, running,
and other exercises will keep muscles firm and tendons flexible and loose, preventing
pain now and preventing later foot problems down that crop up with age.
Wear shoes that fit properly – Finding the right pair of shoes for your feet takes more
than just picking the right size. Different models of shoes all wear differently, and finding
ones that fit the exact shape of your feet is important in preventing foot pain. Make sure
that your toes fit, and ensure that the shoes provide the right amount of support and aren't
too loose or tight around your feet. New Balance shoes are designed to provide the
maximum amount of support for your feet.
In the end, all the foot care measures you take to prevent pain and increase comfort won't matter
much if you don't have strong, durable shoes. New Balance running shoes are a good choice for
men and women, and will make sure that the care you put into your feet pays off.