TORONTO FOOT CLINIC, ACADEMY FOOT AND ORTHOTIC CLINICS SHARES SOME FOOT HEALTH DOS AND DON'TS
posted: Sep. 10, 2016.
Foot Health Dos & Don'ts
- Do
- WALK! This is the best form of exercise for your feet.
- Don't
- Take life lying down. Regardless of your physical condition, walking is beneficial.
- Do
- Wear properly fitting, protective footwear even in your own home.
- Don't
- Go barefoot. This increases the risk of injury and infection and provides no support for either the foot or ankle.
- Do
- Use ice (cold) to treat an injury. This treatment produces a numbing effect and prevents swelling and pain.
- Don't
- Use heat or hot water to treat a foot or ankle injury. Heat promotes blood flow, causing increased swelling.
- Do
- Investigate "walking pumps." These shoes have an athletic shoe-derived construction, wider toe room, reinforced heels and are available in many fashionable styles.
- Don't
- Wear heeled shoes that exceed two inches for extended periods of time - this is an open invitation for foot problems such as metatarsalgia (pain in the ball of the foot).
- Do
- Seek care from a Chiropodist at the first sign of an injury or infection in the foot or ankle. Treatments require an investment of time - the foot isn't just a beauty concern.
- Don't
- Wear athletic shoes for sports other than the ones for which they were intended - one style does not fit all! Don't wear any sports shoe beyond its useful life.
- Do
- Consult a Chiropodist regularly. There are 300 different foot ailments, none of which should be neglected.
- Don't
- Ignore foot pain. Contrary to popular belief, foot pain is not normal!