ways to keep your feet happy and healthy

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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

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Page 1: Ways to Keep Your Feet Happy and Healthy

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

Page 2: Ways to Keep Your Feet Happy and Healthy

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.