Keep Your Feet Healthy and Have More Fun

It may sound like a strange thing to say, but if you want to enjoy yourself you need good feet. A good pair of feet will let you dance all night, walk around the shops all day or enjoy a run. On the other hand, bad feet can make all of these things a trial rather than a pleasure. Looking after your feet is as important as looking after any other part of your body.

Healthy feet are happy feet. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Here are a few simple steps (no pun intended) to help you to keep your feet healthy:

Wear the right shoes

The biggest thing you can do for your feet is to wear the right kind of shoes. It is OK to cram your feet into that pair of high heel shoes or winkle pickers for a special occasion, but you really cannot afford to do it all of the time. The fastest route to bunions, hard skin, heel spurs and other foot problems is to wear the wrong kind of shoes.

Your feet need plenty of space so make sure that you buy the right size and look for footwear that is made from breathable materials. The longer you are going to be wearing the footwear, the more important it is that it be comfortable. If you find your feet hurting after only an hour, you really need to dump those shoes and buy some more.

It is especially important to wear the right footwear when you are putting your feet under a lot of strain. If you like sports, make sure that you buy footwear that is designed for the sport you enjoy. These will provide your feet with the right type of support for that particular activity.

Protect your feet

When necessary you should wear safety shoes or protective footwear. It only takes one accident to cause a huge amount of damage to the foot. You may not like the way safety shoes look, but not wearing them in environments where they are needed is a big risk and one that is just not worth taking.

Give your feet a break

When you can, take your shoes off and let them breathe. If you suffer from puffy ankles, putting your feet up for a few hours makes all of the difference.

Everyone should visit a podiatrist at least once a year. (Photo: Tribune Media Service)

Go to the podiatrist regularly

Maintaining your feet is key to keeping them in good condition. By far the best way to do this is to visit a podiatrist on a regular basis. They will completely remove any hard skin, take care of your toenails and thoroughly examine your feet. Good podiatrists will also advise you about the best style of shoes for your particular body and foot type.

It is also important to soak your feet and moisturize your feet regularly as well as cut your toenails every week. When you wash your feet be especially careful to dry your feet properly. This will help to prevent most common fungal infections.

Article by Sandra Johnstone