Follow Your Feet

Our first big milestone as an infant? Those first steps on our feet! The first significant movement we engage in when we wake up? Taking that first step and planting our feet on the floor to get the day started. For those who have them, feet are required on a daily basis to complete tasks of simplicity to tasks of great difficulty. Of course, there are many people in this world who do not have feet, and are equally as productive compared to those with feet. With that said, having feet are a gift of great convenience, so let's do the best we can to take care of them.

 

What hardships do our feet undergo throughout a lifetime?

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Feet accumulate the wear and tear of travelling distances, bear the stress of daily work - whether sitting, or standing for long hours, or carrying heavy loads. We use feet for walking, running, climbing, driving, standing, and even for balance. Unlike a tire change on a car, we are unable to change the feet on our bodies. When they become worn and torn, it is imperative to take notice of any ongoing foot pain, discomfort, or abnormality.

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What are common signs of feet who need care?

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Foot fungus, blisters, plantar warts, corns, bunions, ingrown toe nails, cracked skin, even minor cuts are all possible problems that can arise when foot health is overlooked and not monitored on a consistent basis. If there is any unknown causes of bleeding, skin discolouration, or numbness along with loss of feeling this should be communicated with your health professionals as there could be more serious undiagnosed conditions such as diabetes. These issues can vary in severity levels depending on when they are addressed, however, attack any foot related concerns at the earliest warning signs. Seek consultation from general health professionals first, and then if needed, generalists can recommend foot care specialists such as podiatrists, chiropractors, endocrinologists, or even masseurs/masseuses.

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Simple solutions for sustaining healthy feet are daily preventative routines. Recommendations are as follows:

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• Inspect your feet daily

• Keep feet washed and clean thoroughly between toes and underside

• Dry feet after shower as fungus and other bacteria thrive in moist conditions

• Trim overgrown nails and confirm no signs of ingrown toenails.

• Wear proper footwear - socks and shoes. In relation to the environment, foot size, proper walking mechanics, and even athletic related activities.

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A helpful hint on the financial side - It can be cost effective to do your own research to educate yourself about your feet and increase the knowledge base around common problems that can easily be remedied at home.