How to take care of your feet

Feet are amazing things. They carry us wherever we need to go. They’ve got thousands of tiny nerve endings on the soles of the feet. They’re built to support you no matter what you weigh. They deserve your love and attention! Here are some great ways to keep your feet feeling happy and loved.

How do you keep your feet happy?

Treat them to some fabulous, supportive, comfortable footwear.

Shoes should not hurt. They should fit nicely, with room for the toes to wiggle a little. Footwear that nips, pinches, or makes your toes go numb should be left in the shop. Shoes should also not be overly loose. Your feet should not need to grip your shoes to prevent them from falling off!

Some shoe shops have started doing half sizes and a range of width fittings for adult shoes which is a huge bonus as many of us are between full shoe sizes. If you’ve not had your shoe size checked recently try using this shoe size chart.

The time of day you go shopping for your shoes can also affect the sizing. Your feet tend to swell towards the end of the day so it’s better to go shopping for shoes late afternoon to accommodate this.

Rotate your footwear and wear lower heels at home

It is good to have several pairs of shoes or boots and to rotate them so you’re not wearing the same pair day in and day out. If you need or like to wear high heels for work try changing into something softer and lower heeled when you come home. 

Treat them to a spa experience

You can do this at home using a bowl of warm water (a washing up bowl will be just fine. I have a special washing up bowl that I use just for feet!) Always check the water temperature before putting your feet in.

You can pop in some nice bubble bath or a handful of epsom salts or add a couple of drops of essential oil like peppermint or lavender essential oil to a teaspoon of sunflower oil and swish that in. Or add a few slices of fresh lemon and some lavender flowers. This can be a lovely thing to do at the end of a hard day at work (or shopping, or chasing after the children!) Towel dry.

Give yourself a mini pedicure

Keep your toenails cut relatively short (but not too short) and ensure you don’t cut down the sides of the nail.

Always cut your toenails straight so they don’t end up digging into your toe. If you find your toenail has started growing into your toe please see a Foot Health Practitioner or Podiatrist for help. If it looks red, hot, is painful or feels infected please see your GP as well. 

Moisturise your feet regularly

Make moisturising your feet part of your daily routine. Gently massaging foot lotion into your feet before bed can help you to relax as well as keeping the skin on your feet nice, soft and supple. 

Put your feet up!

Sitting down with your feet up can feel amazing.  Especially if you’ve been on your feet all day or sat at your desk. Either lay flat with your feet resting on the wall or prop your feet up on cushions on your sofa arm. Stay like this for 10-15 minutes. This helps your lymph drain better and helps blood flow back towards the heart.

Get your partner to give you a foot massage

Using a little foot or body lotion, get your partner to gently massage your feet.

My three favourite foot massage moves are

1. Holding the ankles by cupping your hand under your partners ankles and just holding them for a few moments. This can be wonderfully reassuring.

2. Wrap one foot up in a fluffy towel. Gently rotate the ankle of the other foot in a series of slow but random movements. Do this for a few minutes then swap over. Only do this if your partner has full mobility in their ankles.

3. Very slowly move your hands up your partners leg towards the knee, gently slide back down again and repeat 3 times.

Finish by wrapping both feet up in towels and holding for a few minutes.

Who to turn to if you have a problem with your feet

Sometimes we need help keeping our feet healthy.

If you have any problems with your feet from:

• Fungal nail infections
• Painful bunions,
• Verrucae,
• Ingrowing toenails,
• Athletes foot,
• Diabetic foot care,
• Corns,
• Calluses 
• Anything else that’s causing pain or discomfort for your feet

Consult your local Podiatrist (Chiropodist) or Foot Health Practitioner. Don’t be afraid to go, they will have seen everything before! 

It may be possible to get a referral to a Podiatrist via your GP if the condition is causing pain or loss of mobility.

Resources

If you would like to find out more about National Feet Week please visit https://nationalfeetweek.org #nationalfeetweek

Read my article about Taking Care of your Legs 

Boroughbridge Chiropody https://www.boroughbridgechiropody.co.uk

Buy Foot Scrub and Foot Lotion

https://uk.nyrorganic.com/shop/sjcooper/product/2508/comfrey-and-mallow-foot-balm-50ml

https://uk.nyrorganic.com/shop/sjcooper/product/0607/pumice-foot-scrub-75g/

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