We are all guilty of taking our feet for granted. We rely on them for so much and yet, when a problem develops, and we experience pain, we soon wish we had done more to look after them. It’s very important to care for your feet, take preventative measures and treat problems before they affect your daily life. Here are some top reasons to pay more attention to your feet:
Quality of life
Having a happy and fulfilling life is directly related to your ability to be independent, self-sufficient and do what you want and need to do, such as shopping, going out, seeing friends, walking and playing sports. When foot pain strikes, or you lose the ability to function, it can have a really negative impact on your quality of life. Remember a time when you had to adjust your walking to avoid a painful bunion, blister or callous? It affects your whole body including your other muscles and joints, your balance and makes you feel miserable.
Work
If you have the kind of job that means you’re on your feet a lot, then you’ll want to be comfortable and active. Even if your job is sedentary, for good neck, shoulder and back health and to avoid blood pooling in your feet, you should be getting up and about during regular breaks. Any problems with poor foot health can impact productivity, lead to time off work and lost money for your employer. Therefore, it’s in everyone’s interests to keep your feet well. Shoes or boots with specially designed air cushioned soles are ideal for jobs that involve a lot of walking or standing. For DR Martens Gloucester, visit https://www.cottersshoes.co.uk/product-category/brand/dr-martens/
Activity and Sports
Engaging in regular exercise and sports is good for us both mentally and physically. Even moderate walking is beneficial for a whole number of reasons. Obviously, if you’re in pain with a foot problem, your ability to engage in your favourite activities is severely hampered. Even a minimal amount of physical activity becomes too hard, resulting in perhaps none being done at all. The less exercise you do, the higher your chances are of suffering from things like heart disease and diabetes.
Hygiene
Looking after your feet and keeping up good hygiene routines can prevent problems in the future. Here are some steps you should be taking regularly:
- Have a good look at your feet every day. Look out for bruises, cuts, blisters, skin complaints, bumps and lumps.
- Wash your feet daily, making sure you completely rinse off any soap and always dry your feet thoroughly, especially between your toes.
- Try to trim your toenails straight across and don’t cut them too short.
- Always see a foot specialist to remove callouses, corns or any other issues you’re concerned about.
- Always wear clean socks daily. You might need to do this more than once a day if you’re a heavy sweater. This is especially helpful if you suffer from athlete’s foot.
- If you suffer from a chronic condition such as arthritis or diabetes, you’ll want to have regular check-ups to check the health of your feet.