Foot Care: Good Everyday Habits
Updated: 1 day ago
Walking Is Nature, Foot Care Is Culture: Expert Tips for Healthy Feet
Foot health is about far more than looks or comfort: good posture, balance and movement all depend largely on the wellbeing of your feet. To help you keep your feet healthy every day, Professor Paolo Maraton Mossa, Chair of Orthopaedics at the University of Lugano and director of the Pilot Centre for Foot Surgery in Milan, has put together a clear, practical guide to everyday foot care habits.
Watch your children: keep an eye on their posture and gait. If in doubt, see a specialist. Never pull on a child's legs or feet, as this can cause nerve damage.
Don't scold little ones for touching their feet. It's an instinctive way of getting to know their own bodies.
Walk barefoot. It supports the development of the foot arch and the nervous system, and strengthens the muscles.
Choose the right socks and shoes. Avoid rough or synthetic fabrics. Breathable materials and leather soles are best because, unlike rubber, they help discharge static electricity from the legs.
Never put your feet directly on a heat source. Radiators and hot water bottles can encourage chilblains.
Practise good foot hygiene. Cut toenails straight across, and not too short, to prevent infections and ingrown nails; dry your feet thoroughly, especially between the toes.
Prevent athlete's foot and verrucas. Don't walk barefoot in damp public places, and always air out your shoes after wearing them.
Foot care at the beach. After a day at the seaside, wash your feet with Marseille soap to reduce the risk of viral or fungal infections.
Wear sensible shoes. Choose comfortable footwear that fits the real shape of your foot. A heel of 3–4 cm helps prevent imbalance as well as calf and back pain.
Soak your feet the right way. Never in the bidet. Use lukewarm water with salt or rosemary, then dry your feet well and massage them.
Do daily foot exercises. Heel-toe raises and Achilles tendon stretches, combined with pressing your fingers between the metatarsal heads on the sole of the foot, keep your feet active.
Walk along the shoreline. It naturally tones the muscles and strengthens the complex structure of the feet.
Take injuries seriously. Even without a fracture, persistent pain or swelling should always be checked by a doctor.
Have regular check-ups. Especially if foot conditions run in your family, or if you are pregnant, diabetic or overweight.
Look into your family history of foot problems. It's the easiest way to find out whether you're predisposed to foot disorders.
Look at the foot as a whole. It isn't just made of bones. If problems persist, see a specialist to assess tendons, veins, arteries, nerves and skin.
Diabetic foot care. Use suitable insoles and never ignore any skin or nail lesions.
Corns, calluses and other skin problems. It's best to see a podiatrist.
