The aging process can be hard on the body, and many people do not realise the toll it takes on the feet, which are so essential to maintain mobility. It’s important to take care of your feet to protect against foot pain and injuries that could prevent you from exercising effectively and leading an independent life. If you are already experiencing foot problems, pop in and have a chat with one of our experienced team, who can help you to find the best solutions for your lifestyle and prevent existing problems from worsening.
Here, we’ll take a look at the simple steps you can introduce into your life to protect your feet and give them a little TLC. Making these changes as a preventative measure, to protect yourself as you age, is much easier than trying to wind the clock back and fix problems that have already developed. Your health is your greatest asset and making simple changes to your lifestyle can help you to feel better.
Daily top tips to protect your feet
The best way to protect your feet is to develop a regular foot care routine that helps to keep them healthy and prevent painful foot conditions and injuries.
We recommend:
- Washing and drying your feet daily
Washing and drying your feet every day keeps them clean and removes dirt and bacteria, and it is also a good opportunity to check your feet over for any potential problems such as cuts or sores. This is especially important if you have a condition like diabetes that can affect the feet and you should discuss this with your diabetes care team, which should include a foot specialist. Wash your feet with a gentle soap and dry them carefully with a towel, paying extra attention to ensure the skin between the toes is completely dry.
- Moisturising your feet
The skin of the feet becomes thinner and loses its natural elasticity as you get older, and this can lead to dry skin as well as increasing the risk of injury. Moisturising your feet daily, ideally after washing and drying, can make a big difference and help to keep the skin feeling soft and smooth. You should use an un-perfumed moisturising cream or oil that is easily absorbed and does not irritate your skin.
- Exercising
A regular exercise routine is vital for your foot health as well as your physical health and your mental health. If you struggle to stay motivated, it can be a good idea to team up with a friend to encourage each other and maintain accountability, and you can remind each other of the many benefits of sticking with it. Exercise such as walking, running or swimming is great for your cardiovascular health as well as toning up the muscles in the legs and feet, strengthening the arches of the feet and improving circulation. You should always ensure that you wear the correct footwear for the type of exercise you are doing as this will protect the feet against conditions such as Plantar Fasciitis and Achilles Tendinitis, which are commonly caused by poor footwear and failure to warm up the muscles sufficiently.
- Keeping toenails short
If the toenails are too long, they may push against the ends of the shoes and cause a foot infection, sore or ulcer, all of which are extremely painful conditions. Ingrown toenails are also commonly caused by nails that are too long or have been cut incorrectly. You should always cut the toenails straight across rather than shaping them. Nails become more brittle as you age and moisturising can help with this as well.
- Allow your feet to breathe
You should always make sure that your feet have room to spread inside your shoes and do not wear tights or socks that are too tight as this may affect your circulation or crush the toes together. If the toes are squashed together inside the shoes, for instance, the bones and joints can be damaged, and this can lead to bunions or hammertoes. You should spend some time barefoot when you can, to allow the feet to breathe but take care to ensure that you are not going from one temperature extreme to another as this may cause chilblains.
- Wear good shoes
While you may have felt ok wearing flip flops in your youth, good shoes are essential for adults as the feet require support and cushioning to protect them effectively. Your shoes should be comfortable and fit you well, providing arch support and cushioning where it is needed. Shoes should be made from breathable fabric that allows the feet to expand and should be fitted by a professional fitter to ensure that they are well suited to the shape of your feet.
- Have regular foot examinations
As you get older, it is important to have regular foot examinations to check the health of your feet and see where you could make changes to improve this. You will probably already have a healthcare plan that includes foot health if you have a condition such as diabetes, Peripheral Artery Disease or arthritis. If you have never had a foot examination before, don’t worry! It’s a quick and simple process that will identify any pain or developing issues in the feet, and you can talk to one of our experienced teams in store or see a Podiatrist to make the most of expert advice. If you notice any changes in temperature, changes in skin colour or sores on the feet, you should consult a medical professional to rule out circulation problems or diabetes.
If you are experiencing foot problems or if you want to find out how to take better care of your feet, come in and talk with one of our experienced foot specialists and find out how we can help. We can recommend the best solutions for common foot conditions such as corns, calluses, Athlete’s Foot and Plantar Fasciitis, and we can also help you to prevent conditions like heel spurs and bunions from worsening.
Visit us at Foot Solutions today
We offer services such as gait analysis and custom-made orthotics to enable you to find the very best options for your feet, and we have a great selection of shoes, sandals, trainers and boots that combine style and comfort to ensure your feet look as good as they feel. We can recommend the best solutions for common foot conditions such as corns, calluses, Athlete’s Foot and Plantar Fasciitis, and we can also help you to prevent conditions like heel spurs and bunions from worsening. Your feet are unique and they need an approach that takes this into account, so pop in and visit us in your local store to find out how you can optimise your footcare routine this year.
