Del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
StumbleUponJust as our psyches need regular doses of tender loving care, so do our feet. Yet people tend to neglect this part of the anatomy, notes Arnold Ravick, D.P.M., a podiatrist in Washington, D.C., and member of the Public Affairs Committee of the American Podiatric Medical Association. "People tell me that their feet have always caused them pain and that they always will," says Ravick. "But that doesn't have to be true."
To pamper your feet at the end of the day, treat them to a little warmth. "Either soak them or use a heating pad," Ravick recommends. "The type of heat doesn't matter." If you soak your feet, put a few drops of baby oil in the water so your skin doesn't dry out. Then blot them with a towel, rather than rubbing. Finish up by applying some skin lotion. To leave your feet feeling really relaxed, massage them gently for 5 or 10 minutes by moving the joints and muscles around between your fingers.
Choose the Right Shoes
Although feet continue to change throughout adulthood, "very few people have their shoe size checked regularly," notes Ravick. "It's almost the same as men and their haircuts. A teenager will get a haircut when he's 15 and never change the style. Adults should have their feet measured at least once a year."
It isn't enough for shoes to be the right size, however; you should also make sure they fit properly in other ways. "If a shoe doesn't feel comfortable, people tend to ask for a larger size, but most of the time it's the width that's not right, rather than the length," Ravick explains.
According to Stephen Conti, M.D., an orthopedist at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, the widest part of your foot should fit comfortably in the widest part of the shoe. To be sure of a proper fit, measure the widest part of your foot by standing on a ruler, then measure the sole of the shoe.
Ask to have both your feet measured and try on the shoes that fit your larger foot. Make sure that you have half an inch of space between your longest toe and the tip of the shoe. Never buy shoes that are uncomfortable, thinking you'll break them in. Finally, shop for shoes at the end of the day: Your feet swell as the day progresses.
Other Steps to Take
It's easy to forget about taking care of your feet until you run into trouble. But with routine care along the way, you can prevent some of the more common problems.
- If your feet tend to cramp up during the night, stretch them out before you go to bed by standing on your tiptoes for 20 seconds, then relaxing; repeat four or five times.
- Before you put on your shoes in the morning, dust just a bit of baby powder or foot powder into each one to absorb any moisture.
- If you're traveling, take along some athlete's-foot powder to use on your feet after you take a shower. Sprinkle some in your shoes before you put them on.
- If you get blisters or redness at the tips of your toes, rub a little petroleum jelly on them. This reduces friction from your foot moving around inside your shoe, which is generally the cause of the problem.
- Trim your toenails after you take a bath or shower when they're softer and easier to cut.
Some of the more ordinary woes that beset feet can be treated with simple remedies. Here are some suggestions from the American Podiatric Medical Association on how to deal effectively with them:
Achilles tendinitis This inflammation of the tendon that attaches to the back of the heel bone is generally caused by improper warm-up or overtraining. Treat with ice, rest, and aspirin or some other anti-inflammatory medication.
Bunion A misaligned big-toe joint often results in one of these painful, bony protrusions at the base of that toe. Bunions tend to run in families but can be aggravated by shoes that are too narrow across the front. Wear low-heeled shoes with extra room for toes, and use doughnut-shaped bunion cushions to take pressure off the joint. Surgery is usually recommended for severe cases.
Heel spur A bony overgrowth at the bottom of the heel bone, this problem generally develops when the plantar tendon pulls at its attachment to the heel bone. Proper warm-up exercises and appropriate athletic shoes will reduce the strain.
Ingrown toenail Painful ingrown toenails frequently result from improper nail trimming, but they can also be caused by shoe pressure, injury, fungus infections, and even heredity. You can often prevent them from occurring by trimming nails straight across and by wearing wide, roomy shoes.
To find out more about the proper care of your feet, call the American Podiatric Medical Association at 800-366-8227 or visit the association's Web site at www.apma.org.
Advertisement 
Your Comments
See all
...