Happy Feet: Tips, Tricks, and Kicks to Keep Your Feet Happy and Healthy

Feet often go neglected in one way or another. Sure, it is fun to adorn them with great shoes, but not so fun when feet ache and scream for relief. There are simple steps you can take to make sure those tootsies are happy and in-step for many, many years to come.

Practice good hygiene
There are things we do on a regular basis to stay clean like bathe regularly and wash our hands. Feet need the same attention as well.

Wash feet everyday in warm water and dry them well. Take special care to dry the areas between your toes.
Apply moisturizing lotion to your feet every day, but do not apply lotion on or between your toes.
Inspect your feet. Note any changes in the color or temperature of your foot. Monitor any growths, like calluses. See a doctor if your toenails become thick, discolored, tough, or just do not seem normal.
Remove skin only with a pumice stone or foot file. Be gentle and do not slough-off skin if it is over a joint (see a doctor for that).
Use a nail trimmer to cut toenails. Cut them straight across, but not too short. Leave the corners of the toenails square—not too rounded—as this can cause ingrown nails.
Avoid walking around barefoot. We do not have thick pads on our feet like animals do, so we are more prone to injury or infection. Wear sandals in areas that have a lot of moisture like pools and public showers to avoid foot fungus.
Foot pain that lasts for more than 72 should be checked-out by a doctor. Swelling of the feet should be checked-out if it lasts more than 24 hours.

Buy the right shoes
Shoes should be comfortable, practical, fit well, and look fabulous. When purchasing shoes, keep the following in mind:

Avoid shoe discomfort by buying shoes that fit the shape of your foot.
Purchase shoes later in the day. Feet tend to be larger at the end of the day since they have been walked-on.
Shoes good for your feet should be made of breathable materials, like leather or canvas.
Shock-absorbent soles are always the best.
Buy shoes with the proper support if they will be used for athletic purposes. Make sure they have the proper arch support for your feet, have the proper rigidity, and the soles have the proper cushioning for the activity you wish to do.
When wearing socks, wear a pair that is breathable (like cotton) and not too tight.
When purchasing shoes, buy comfortable shoes that fit right away. Who likes breaking shoes in anyway?

Keep feet flexible
We work-out our abs, arms, legs, etc., but often neglect the feet. Simple exercises can help keep our feet flexible and our ankles strong:

Raise, point, and curl the toes. Hold each position for five seconds to complete a set of ten for each action.
Massage the bottom of your feet by rolling a ball on the ground with your foot. Do this for about two minutes.
Grab a hand-towel and place it on the floor. Starting that the end nearest you, start to pull the towel towards you by extending and curling your toes to grab and pull the towel. Repeat this motion until you reach the other end. Place weights on the end of the towel for more resistance. Repeat five times per foot.
If you haven’t lost them, grab some marbles and place about 20 on the floor along with a small bowl. With your toes, pick up the marbles--one at a time—and place them into the small bowl. This can be made into a game if others are around you: see who can get all 20 marbles in their bowl first.

Foot care is not just for the summer time when feet will be shown-off. It is a routine that must be followed for a lifetime. After all, we are only given one pair.

~Flora Richards-Gustafson, 2009