You rely on your feet for mobility and balance. It goes without saying that you need to take care of them the way you would any equipment that you consider valuable.
Regardless of whether you’re living an active lifestyle, investing in keeping your feet in tip-top condition allows you to enjoy a good quality of life. Let these simple tips help you strengthen your feet and ensure optimal health.
Exercise your feet.
Exercises help maintain foot flexibility and build strength. The more flexible your feet are, the less likely they are to get injured.
To increase the flexibility and strength of your feet, do toe curls and picking up a ball with your foot. Resistance exercises with the use of a towel can also help strengthen the foot.
Walking barefoot in the sand is another great way to both stretch and strengthen your feet and calves. Running in the sand gives your feet and calves a good workout. If you don’t live near the beach, going out for a walk can at least help strengthen your feet.
Give them some pampering.
Wash your feet properly and keep them at a healthy moisture level. Dry feet can cause the skin to break and consequently lead to infection, while excess moisture can cause bacterial overgrowth.
If you are feeling pain in your heel, you can roll a golf ball under your foot to relieve it. If your feet are tired, let them rest and give them a gentle massage.
Soaking your feet in warm water, even without anything extra in it, is a great way to give them their much-needed TLC after a tiring day. A foot soak can soothe your tired muscles and relieve the aches associated with hours of standing or walking in uncomfortable footwear.
Use thick socks and supportive, comfortable footwear.
Age-related changes to the feet, such as the thinning of the fat pad on the heels, meaning that the feet need more cushioning to avoid pain. Thick socks help provide greater cushioning and help absorb impact. Combined with comfortable and supportive shoes, thick socks reduce the stress placed on your feet every time they hit the ground.
Get your feet periodically examined.
If you’re having foot pain that doesn’t respond to rest and basic remedies, you will benefit from the expertise of a podiatrist. Podiatrists treat injuries or conditions that affect the bones, joints, and soft tissues—as well as other biomechanical and skin problems—in the foot and ankle.
It pays to get your feet checked regularly by a podiatrist, even before the slightest manifestation of a foot problem, all the more so if you have diabetes.
Podiatric Care in South Texas
At The Podiatry Group of South Texas, our board-certified podiatrists are passionate about providing all of our patients with the highest quality of personalized foot care. Whether what you have is a bunion, foot fracture, diabetic foot problem, or heel pain, you can count on our expertise and experience to deliver excellent treatment outcomes.
To make an appointment with one of our podiatrists, call our clinic nearest you or use our online appointment request form.
