Health & Life Magazine March 2017

Taking care of your feet for just a few minutes a day is easy.
A straightforward daily foot-care regime will help keep the skin,
bones and muscles of your feet functioning optimally.
01. Walk
Just like any other muscle, your
feet need exercise to stay strong.
No weights needed: just by taking
a daily walk, you keep your foot
muscles firm, and the tendons
and ligaments flexible. Walking
with your friends, family, and pets,
is a great workout for your feet,
and an opportunity to enjoy some
social time while you’re at it.
2.
Choose the Right Shoes
02. Wash
It’s an easy step to skip, but
ensuring that you wash your feet
regularly is important. When we
are working, our feet spend most
of every day trapped inside a
pair of shoes. The moisture and
sweat provides fertile ground
for bacteria to grow, which can
eventually lead to fungal infections
and other skin problems.
By thoroughly washing with gentle
soap, focusing between your toes,
you can prevent infections from
developing.
03. Dry
Make sure you dry your
feet properly to prevent
the development of fungal
infections like athlete’s foot.
Foot powder also helps keep
feet drier for longer when
wearing closed shoes.
04. Moisturize
It is important to moisturize
your feet regularly, especially
if you are wearing sandals. In
dry, sandy climates, feet endure
a lot of wear and tear. This can
result in areas of dry or scaly
skin, which can crack and
bleed, or become irritated. By
moisturizing, you keep the skin
supple, smooth and healthy. Try
jojoba or coconut oil to relieve
cracked heels.
Choosing the correct shoes is important.
Poorly fitting shoes can lead to the
development of several painful foot
conditions, including corns and calluses,
hallux valgus (bunions) and toe deformities
. Inappropriate shoes can also lead to falls,
which can cause many health complications .
Not sure how to choose the right shoe for
your foot?
Here is the recommendation from the
Healthy Footwear Guide: “The Healthy
Footwear Guide recommends that a
‘healthy’ shoe should be of adequate width
and depth, with a toe box and sole that allow
for normal foot function. The heel should be
stable and approximately 25 mm high, and
the shoe should keep the foot stable.”
Fact-box: Foot-care and Mobility
Decreased mobility has a very serious impact on our physical and
mental health. Lower mobility restricts activity and social participation,
causes isolation, anxiety and depression, and contributes to an overall
poorer quality of life. Not only that, but studies have found that
mobility limitations are a strong predictor of subsequent disabilities.
Keep yourself mobile by taking care of your feet!
Diabetes, Back Pain, and Foot-Care
For diabetics, foot-care is even more important. According to Hamilton
Health Sciences, diabetes can cause problems with the nerves and blood
vessels in your feet. By checking your feet and legs each day, and sitting
with your feet up when possible to keep the blood flowing, you severely
reduce the risk of pain, swelling, and redness.
Feet can have far reaching consequences. According to the Framingham
Foot Study, over- or under-pronated foot function, where body weight is
distributed unevenly and results in abnormal leg and foot movements, may
contribute to lower back pain in women. Wearing the correct footwear is
one way of managing this condition and therefore easing lower back pain.
Luxury foot-care
Your feet work very hard every day—why not pamper them
from time to time? Peppermint oil has multiple health benefits.
Studies have shown that using peppermint oil topically is an
effective natural painkiller and muscle relaxant, as well as
a natural odor killer. Treat yourself to a simple, natural, and
relaxing foot rub, and take care of your feet along the way!
Keep Your Feet Happy
By following a simple foot-care regime
that includes regular walking, washing,
moisturizing, and choosing the right shoes,
you can keep your feet happy and healthy.
Invest a little time on your long-term mobility,
and keep dancing for years to come!
23
MARCH 2017