Foot Care
Podophobia: Fear of Feet – What Is It and How Can It Be Helped?
Coming from the Greek word 'podos', which means feet, the word podophobia means the fear of feet. For some, developing this kind of fear seems bizarre and unheard of, but it is a common phobia that affects a large number of people from all over the world.
So what is podophobia and how can it be helped? The common trait of people developing this kind of fear is that they become upset even at the slightest sight of a foot. However, people have different experiences when it comes of dealing with podophobia.
Possible causes why a person develops podophobia
● There’s no scientific evidence that can directly explain why a person develops a fear of feet, but there are some cases exploring why people develop podophobia over time.
● Some experts explain that a negative or traumatic experience in the past might have triggered a phobia within the person. For example, they might remember being physically abused and kicked by a caregiver during their childhood days, which is why they dread the sight of a foot immensely.
● Some argue that the culprit behind podophobia might be genetics, especially in exceptional cases where the fear is there for unexplainable reasons.
● Feet conditions like bunions or claw toes that are painful can also trigger this kind of reaction.
● Overly anxious individuals suffering from adrenal deficiencies can also develop this kind of fear in the long run.
Symptoms
Diagnosis is vital to be able to know if a person is suffering from this kind of condition. Why? Because it can be detrimental to one's health in the long run. Just like any other fear, symptoms can be apparent, up to the point that a person can develop physical and psychological symptoms that can potentially harm their overall well-being. In response to exposure to feet, suffers of podophobia may exhibit the following:
● Dizziness
● Fainting spells
● Gastrointestinal disease
● Nausea
● Trembling, shaking, profuse sweating
● Covering own feet, even requesting other people to cover theirs as well
● Shortness of breath and palpitations
● Becoming anxious and refusing to interact when discussing topics relating to feet, even when talking about shoes or socks
● Overall extreme fear and anxiety with movie-like images flashing in one's mind
In extreme cases, the phobia can be so severe that that sufferer can associate dying with feet and this can significantly affect their social interactions and relationships with other people.
How to make a person with podophobia comfortable
We know that podophobia can affect a person's social interactions and relationships because most suffers simply choose to isolate themselves. On the other hand, there are some practical ways to make a person suffering from this fear comfortable.
● Do not remove your shoes and socks around the person.
● If you don't want to put them in a high-anxiety and sometimes violent state, never wave your feet in front of their faces.
● If you want to sit close to them, it's better to move your legs away and cover your feet entirely.
● Never try clipping the nails of your feet when you're in the same room with them.
● Try to stay away from discussing topics like feet.
We all have fears within us. It is best to try to be considerate, and understand that the person is going through a tough time when it comes to dealing with their fear.
Treatment
Since podophobia can disrupt day-to-day routines of the person and can potentially harm their well being and relationships, it is critical at this point for sufferers to seek treatment.
● Therapists will generally recommend at some point the desensitization technique by gradually exposing the person to their greatest fears. It can be done by looking through pictures, letting people touch their feet and vice versa. By facing their fears head on, they'll gradually develop this exposure and over time become desensitized to it.
● Sometimes, sufferers are encouraged to have regular pedicures as well to help them rationalize their fears and put them into perspective.
● To help one be comfortable in facing what they dread the most, some employ hypnotherapy. The process involves getting into one's mind and examining the root of the person's fear. It employs specific techniques that could rewire a person's brain.
● Medications such as anti-anxiety drugs may be prescribed to help reduce overall anxiety of the person.
● Meditation allows one to recognize and acknowledge certain feelings and thoughts. However, the body isn't compelled to produce an emotional reaction to it since it quiets the mind and forces you not to overthink. Meditation is focusing more and living in the present moment, rather than in the past. Phobias, fears, and anxiety can potentially stem from a distant traumatic past and meditation can help sufferers overcome these negative feelings.
The takeaway
Podophobia is a condition wherein a person develops a fear of feet. Although mostly unheard of by other people, there are several factors may cause a person to create this kind of phobia. If left untreated, it can immensely disrupt a person's quality of life and even damage their social interactions and relationships. That's why seeking treatment to overcome these fears is critical. With the right amount of patience, positive thinking and endurance, a person can overcome this fear.
If you or your loved one's goal is to aim for a healthier and more productive life, you can ask the help of a professional such as those at Psychologists Southern Sydney to help you with counseling and coaching sessions to overcome issues that are directly affecting your overall mental and emotional well-being. With an excellent treatment approach, a person can overcome this kind of phobia the right way.
The post was written by Janice Killey.
Recovery For Runners: How To Get Back To Running After A Personal Foot Injury
Nobody enjoys getting involved in an accident that would prevent you from running, walking, or even standing up straight. Nobody would ever want to get sidelined for weeks or months unable to run, especially for a runner whose enjoyment, exercise, or career depends on his/her foot. It would be tough to stay in your bed all day or stay in a wheelchair while you could have been training. It’s even harder if the only thing that you could do is watch other people run around. This is why it’s difficult to have an injured foot or feet.
Know What Is Your Top Priority: Your Foot And Your Health
After the accident and the injury of your foot, it should be your very first priority to get back in shape and become healthy to run again. Recovering from your foot injury is where you should focus your mind; you need to become an emotionally, physically, and mentally better after this, not the other way around.
Even if you want to file a lawsuit against the person who has been responsible for your foot damage, you should remember that the legal works are not for you to work on. The person responsible for taking the legal actions is your lawyer. You should also not forget that going to trial is never easy. So, how can you go to trial when you can barely stand? This is why you should get healthy first.
Ways To Get Back Running After A Personal Foot Injury
You may be thinking that it would be better for you to hide in your room all day and keep grieving about your injuries. However, you should know that you’ll never recover that way. It would be better for you to find ways to get your feet running again. Here are ways to get back running after your foot injury:
1. Take time to understand your injury
In dealing with any injury, your physical injuries are only as painful as your psychological pain. This is why taking time to understand your foot injury is essential. You need to fully understand your damages so you can accept it and start your path to recovery.
You can:
● Research injuries that are similar to yours
Doing this will enable you to see how other people have dealt with injuries of the same degree.
● Openly communicate with your doctor
Your doctor has spent years studying injuries such as yours. Thus he/she can help you better understand it and even look for treatments for it.
2. Always prioritize a sound sleep
Slowing down and resting can significantly help your body. You may think that this is counterintuitive as you’d rather spend your time doing something else. However, you should know without enough sleep, you’ll only strain your injury. If you do strain your injury, you may end up damaging it further.
You can have a good sleep by:
● Cleaning your bed
A dirty bed would only disrupt your sleep since it only promotes dust mites which can make you to itch, sneeze, or get irritated.
● Take naps when you can
It’s better to sleep at night; however, if you can get some naps during the daytime, then it would also be helpful.
● Turn your gadgets off.
The light from your gadgets can hurt your sleep. To prevent this, turn off all your gadgets at least 30 minutes before you go to bed.
3. Get some relaxation
Relaxing after an accident is essential for your recovery. Relaxing your body and mind will help you lower your stress levels. It will also help you heal your body and remove tension on your foot.
You can get relaxed by:
● Yoga
Yoga can help your mind relax, which can be very helpful when you’re trying to focus yourself on healing your foot. It can also help your body rest, which is beneficial for your physical healing.
● Acupuncture
Foot injuries usually come with chronic pain. Fortunately, acupuncture can help you deal with that. It can also help you deal with your headaches and correct your posture.
● Massage
Getting a massage will help your body relax. It can also release the knots in your muscles such as muscles in your foot and relieve the tension on your joints. A massage can also help you prevent severe headaches and lower your anxiety levels.
You should make sure that you’d consult your doctor or physical therapist before you do any of these things.
4. Enjoy the different scents
Believe it or not, but scents are not just for making your house or room smell good. They can help you heal your wounds, especially your foot injury and relax your stressed mind.
Get a whiff of these scents:
● Jasmine
Jasmine can help your body relax, which means that you can sleep better. It can also lower your anxiety levels, which can be helpful when you’re planning to train again.
● Cinnamon
Cinnamon can help you improve your rocky balance and help you with your motor skills. It can also aid you in increasing your alertness, stimulates your central nervous system, and enhance your performance.
● Rose
This flowery scent can help your body relax, which can help you experience pleasant dreams. It can help your brain to think of happy memories.
5. Take all the vitamins and minerals that you need
A healthy meal can help your body have all the necessary nutrients that it needs. Vitamins and minerals can help you recover faster, which means that you can get back to running sooner.
You can consume all these vitamins and minerals:
● Vitamin C
Vitamin C would help your body heal, protect you from free radicals, improve your bone tissues, and maintain your cartilage.
● Vitamin A
Vitamin A can help you produce white blood cells, which are your body’s protector from injuries. They also help you fight off viruses and infections.
● Omega- 3 Fatty Acids
Omega- 3 fatty acids can help reduce the swelling and inflammation in your foot.
● Zinc
Zinc is essential for your healing. It can help your body utilize all the fats and proteins it needs to grow and recover.
6. Listen carefully
Music has effects on your body and mind. Great music can aid in your healing and deal with the pain you feel on your foot.
You can enjoy these tunes:
● Upbeat tunes
Music that is upbeat can energize you, which will motivate you to move and run again.
● Relaxing tunes
Relaxing music can help you feel well-rested. It can help your body sleep better, giving you your needed energy to train.
● Steady tunes
Steady music can affect your heart rate, and breathing rate becomes lower.
7. Get moving
Even with a foot injury which confined you on a wheelchair or forced you to move around with crutches, you should move your body. Even if you have limited mobility for now, it doesn’t mean that you no longer need to exercise. Exercise is essential for you to stretch your injured foot. It can also help you lower your stress levels and improve your mood.
You can do these exercises even with a foot injury:
● Cardiovascular exercises
Cardiovascular exercise can help you increase your heart rate and increase your body’s endurance. Even with a foot injury, you can still try swimming.
● Strength training exercises
Strength training exercises can help you build the muscles in your foot, improve bone mass, prevent you from falling, and improve your balance. You can try lifting weights.
● Flexibility exercises
Flexibility exercises can enhance your range of motion, reduce pain on your foot, and prevent further injury. You can try yoga and stretching.
8. Follow your doctor’s orders.
You should always follow your doctor’s order as your doctor know what’s best for you. He/she also have the necessary experience to help you recover faster. When looking for a doctor, make sure to find someone who specializes in foot injuries.
You should also make that you always take your meds. If you miss a dose, you may end up in more pain or make your injury resistant to your current dosage.
Lastly, you should never miss a single doctor’s appointment as that appointment could have been essential in your healing. Plus, if you file a lawsuit, missing one arrangement will make it look like that you don’t care about your injuries.
Getting injured can be very hard, especially if it’s on your foot. Your path to becoming healthy is long and winding road. However, it all starts if you take the first step of trying to get back on your feet again. If you religiously follow the tips we have given above, you’ll be able to run again. And if you want to attain an attorney, make sure to hire a foot injury lawyer who has the caliber of the lawyers that we have here. A reliable lawyer will be able to help you get your justice by helping and guiding you all throughout the legal process.
Getting personal foot injuries as a result of someone else’s negligence means having the right of compensation against the party at fault. If you want to know how you can bring a legal action, you can click here.
Jewel Spencer
Handy Tips To Stay Fit After Gaining A Lower Limb or Foot Disability
No one would like to get involved a traumatizing incident that resulted in a disability. Nobody in their right mind would want to lose their ability to walk or run either. You wouldn’t want to never to run, walk, or even properly stand anymore. You don’t want to get confined to a bed or wheelchair and just watch people pass you by. Most of all, it would be tough to have the joy of having two feet taken away from in just a snap. One day you’re happily walking, and all you could do is watch your dreams and future get shattered in the next.
After The Accident: Your First Responsibility
If you get involved in an accident and lose your lower limb or foot in the process, you should know that your first responsibility is to take care of yourself. It should be your primary concern to get back in shape and hopefully, have a full life again. You should put all your attention on not what you have lost, but what you could still do. You should never let yourself get drowned in grief and become mentally, emotionally, and physically weaker.
It’s understandable that you would want retribution after your accident. You may wish to file a lawsuit and put the person responsible for your pain and suffering behind bars. However, if you want to file a suit against your perpetrator, you should remember that it isn’t your responsibility to take the necessary legal actions. It’s your lawyer’s responsibility to take the steps needed to achieve justice. This is why you should try to get fit and healthy again.
Tips To Stay Fit After Gaining A Disability
Most people think after getting disabled, all they could now is hide and cry about their lost limb all day. However, that’s not what you’re supposed to do as there is no recovery by becoming stagnant. The best thing that you could do is try to get back on your feet again.
1. Take a more in-depth to look at your situation
In dealing with your disability, the very first thing that you should do is take time to understand what has happened. The physical suffering that you’re going through is as painful as your emotional suffering, and sometimes even worse. That’s why sitting down and learning everything that you can about your disability is important.
To understand, your situation you should:
● Talk with your doctor openly
A medical doctor has spent years learning about disabilities like yours; this is why he/she is one of the best person who can help you. Openly communicating with him/her will enable him/her to understand you better and vice versa.
● Research disabilities that are similar to yours
Researching about others who have gone through what you’re currently going through will give you the knowledge in how you should deal with your situation.
● Look for treatments or aids that can help you
There are a lot of treatments and aids that can help you deal, such as automated wheelchairs or prosthetics.
2. You should never disobey your doctor’s commands
You should always follow your doctor’s every instruction as he/she knows what’s right for you. Your doctor also knows what the things that you can do to help you recover are. Make sure that when you look for a doctor, he/she specializes in disabilities like yours.
You should also never miss an appointment with your doctor, as one missed appointment may be essential for your recovery. Plus, if you file for compensation or a suit, one missed appointment would make you look like you don’t care about your disability.
Lastly, you should take your medicines religiously as it can help you heal faster. Missing a dose of your medications, even just for once, will result in your pain or injury becoming drug resistant.
3. Ask for support from people that understand you
Support and treatments are available for people like you. All you need to do is reach out and ask for it.
You can:
● Talk with your family and friends
Talking about what happened will enable you to lessen the emotional burden that you’re carrying. Your family and friends care for you, so they’ll always ready to hear you out and offer help if they can.
● Join organizations for people with a disability
Joining organizations such as American Association of People with Disabilities that are dedicated for people like you; this is why joining them can significantly help you as you’ll be surrounded by people who understand what you’re going through.
4. You should rest as much as you can
Sleeping well can significantly help your overall well-being. If you don’t have enough rest and force yourself to move around, you’ll only damage your foot or lower limb more.
You can have enough rest by:
● Making sure that your bed is clean
A bed that’s dirty will only disturb your sleep as lying on it will just make you sneeze, itch, and get irritated.
● Turning off your devices before you rest
The light will only hurt your eyes; thus you’ll have difficulties in sleeping. Therefore, to prevent this from happening, you need to turn off your devices before you sleep.
● You should take a nap
Sleeping at night is preferable. However, it can be helpful if you can rest during the day.
5. Take time to relax yourself
It’s essential for you to get fit again for you to relax. Relaxation can help your mind and body to lower the level of anxiety that you feel. Relaxing can also help you heal yourself and reduce the tension that you feel.
You can relax your mind and body by:
● Get a massage
Getting a massage can release all the knots on the muscles and reduce the tension that you feel on your lower limb or foot. A massage can also reduce the pain that you feel from migraines and lower your stress.
● Learning yoga
Yoga can aid in relaxing your mind and body, which can be helpful in giving your full attention to recovery.
● Getting an acupuncture
Your disability comes with chronic pain, and gladly, acupuncture can aid you in dealing with the pain.
6. Enjoy all the scents
Your sense of smell is not just for making you feel good; it can also help you become fit and healthy again.
Take a whiff of all these fragrances:
● Scent of rose
This scent can aid you in making your body relax and help you have pleasant dreams.
● Scent of jasmine
This scent can help feel relaxed and help you sleep better. It also helps you in lowering your stress levels.
● Scent of cinnamon
This scent can assist you in ensuring that your balance is well and aid in improving your motor skills.Cinnamon can also help you stay alert, enhance your body’s performance, and stimulate your central nervous system.
7. Give your body nourishment
You should never underestimate the power of a healthy diet. It can help your body get all the vitamins and minerals that it needs, which are essential for a more youthful body.
You should eat all these:
● Protein
Protein is essential for your healing, as your body’s recovery depends on how much protein you consume.
● Antioxidants
Free radicals make your body weaker; however, if you have enough antioxidants, you can control these free radicals.
● Omega- 3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids can help you reduce the swelling and inflammation of your injuries.
8. Get your body moving
Even if you have lost your lower limb or foot, you shouldn’t let that prevent you from moving. Even if you need crutches or confined in your wheelchair, you should still exercise.
Even with a disability, you can still do these exercises:
● Flexibility exercises
Flexibility exercises such as yoga can help you enhance your motion’s range, reduce the pain you feel on your lower limb or foot, and helps you prevent more injury.
● Cardiovascular exercises
Cardio exercises such as swimming can help you increase the level of your body’s endurance and heart rate.
● Strength training exercises
Strength training exercises such as lifting weights will help you build muscles, prevent you from falling, and improve your bone mass.
9. Make yourself feel whole with tunes
Great tunes can bring positive to your mind and body. It can also aid in healing your injuries, and deal with your emotional and physical pain.
You indulge yourself with these melodies:
● Relaxing melody
Relaxing melody can assist you in achieving a better sleep, which can help gain your much-needed energy.
● Upbeat melody
Upbeat melody can help make you feel energized, which can help you get encouraged to move your body.
● Steady melody
Steady melody can help you lower the rate of your heart and breathing.
Getting disabled is never easy. However, you shouldn’t let that keep you down and give up on your life. If you follow these tips above, together with a good lawyer’s help, you’ll get better in no time.
Disability can affect all aspects of your life, which is why filing for insurance claim is of paramount of importance. But if your claim has been consistently denied by your insurer, know the available legal actions you may take by clicking here.
The post written by Andrew Nickleson
Key Tips On Healing Better After An Ankle Break From A Slip And Fall
The ankle is responsible for a wide range of activities. It allows balance and locomotion, and it takes the weight of the body during considerable force like jumping or running.
This part of the body consists of three joints which are the fibula, tibia, and the talus. There are also five ligaments and a tendon that holds it all together. The ankle can perform its duties correctly if these joints and ligaments work hand in hand. As such, suffering an ankle break or fracture can significantly affect your daily routine.
When talking about ankle injuries, the severity of the damage can have an impact on the period of recovery as the tissues, bones, tendons, and ligaments in the injured ankle need time to heal.
Thus, this article will discuss some tips in healing better after an ankle break from a slip and fall, especially if it happens to you.
Get Enough Rest
One of the key tips to successfully recover after an ankle break is to have enough rest. This is especially helpful after your operations. Rest can limit the strain and pressure you put on your ankle.
Here are some of the ways on how to get enough rest to heal faster:
Keep heavy weight off your feet or your ankle as it improves. You can do this by avoiding tight socks or shoes temporarily.
Make sure to sleep eight hours daily. Sleeping can restore and heal the damaged tissues and bones in the body.
Doctors typically recommend that your foot doesn’t carry any weight such as your body’s weight. Any pressure on your foot can delay the recovery period of your fractured or broken ankle.
Do some breathing relaxation techniques to calm your nerves and help release the pain. You can go to a quiet place, inhale and exhale, and focus on the positive memories you have in your life.
Deal With A Swelling Ankle Immediately
After surgery, your feet might swell especially if you always put pressure on it, such as when standing for long hours or wearing tight shoes or socks.
Thus, here are some of the recommendations on how to deal with a swelling ankle to recover faster:
Keep your feet elevated all the time to reduce swelling from blood circulation and avoid pressure. Elevate your feet above your waist, ideally six inches above your chest.
Try a cold-circulation unit to prevent the swelling of your ankle. You can place crushed ice in a bag and wrap it in a towel. Then, apply it to the swelling body parts but make sure that you won’t leave it for more than ten minutes. If your skin becomes pink, then it is still in healthy condition. However, if it becomes white or red, it means that you have applied the ice for too long.
Protect Your Wounds Right After The Operation
Right after your surgery, your wounds may still be fresh, and one must take necessary steps to avoid further issues such as an infection.
Here are some of the methods on how you can do this and prevent any further issues that may arise from the operation:
Do not remove your bandage, boot, or plaster cast of your ankle. If you discover that your dressing has rapid spotting, you can go to the doctor immediately.
Make sure that you don’t let your ankle or foot get wet at any time of the day. If you accidentally spill water on it, it is also best to see your doctor.
In removing the bandage, follow the order of your doctors regarding its cleaning especially the surgical area. Make sure you don’t put cream, lotion, or anything topical on the incision because it may infect the wound.
Perform Necessary Recovery Measures As Prescribed By The Doctors
If you noticed any side-effects such as redness, foul odor, drainage, and chills, it is best if you call your doctor immediately.
Your doctor will give you medicine to take to manage the pain right after surgery. You will most probably have a non-opioid or an opioid medication to ease the pain. Do take note to follow the prescribed dosage so you won’t experience any side-effects in the end.
Here are other measures that you need to do to heal your broken ankle better:
Avoid drinking alcoholic drinks especially if you are taking antibiotics.
Limit your sugar intake. Skip eating sweets and drinking sodas.
Drink lots of water whenever you are drinking medicines.
Eat foods that are rich in fiber like beans, lentils, and prunes, and also fruits and vegetables that are rich in protein. It can help you fuel up the healing process.
Do not smoke cigarettes or vape.
Secure Worries Outside Treatment
One of the most important parts of treatment is making sure that the environment you’re in is compatible with your recovery. Treatment and recovery are typically more difficult when something is still on your mind.
If matters of the injury outside the treatment are yet to be settled, such as legalities, then your worry and stress may impede your treatment.
Here are some of the things to consider on how to secure legalities to recover faster:
How did you gain the injury? If someone else caused the broken ankle and you feel that your slip and fall injury is a result of someone’s negligence, try to consult an accident lawyer or a personal lawyer on possible methods of compensation.
Are the injuries work-related? Try to make sure that your place of work has protocols in place when it comes to work injuries, and consult a business lawyer or a legal professional if you’re unsure of what to ask your bosses about this.
Do you have insurance? If you have insurance, you may have access to better treatment methods due to your coverage policies. Try to claim for compensation on your insurance policies.
Conclusion
In sum, recovery from an injured ankle can take time, but there are some steps you can do to speed it up a little bit. Have enough rest, watch the food you eat, be careful with your wounds, and perform the necessary recovery procedures as prescribed by your doctor.
Aside from these tips, it is also essential that you settle all legal matters so you will be worry-free and you can get back to your daily routine immediately. If you wish to ask for some legal advice, you can visit this site.
Vicki Haskett
Vicki is a law writing enthusiast who's had over 25 years of experience in her field. She enjoys sharing her experiences with those who want to learn more about the legal world. In her spare time she spends quality time with her family and friends.
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Optimal Foot Health: What You Need To Know To Improve Your Health
Your feet are an essential part of your body, and you use them to take steps, run, stand, walk and do various activities. Also, the feet act as a set of shock absorbers which protects the body in every step you take. Thus, you should always protect your feet.
This body part contains 26 bones, alongside hundreds of ligaments, muscles, and tendons which makes an extraordinary and complex mechanism.
Every day, you put a lot of pressure on your feet, that’s why it is not surprising that many develop issues. Many people believe that experiencing pain in the feet is normal. However, it is not. As many experts say, it actually could be an indication of greater health problems.
Indeed, no matter how old you are, it is still vital to have healthy feet. There are various ways you could maintain optimal foot health and here are some of the tips on how to do it:
Always Keep Your Feet Clean And Dry
If you have good hygiene, then you will most likely have healthy feet. Here are some ways on how you can keep your feet clean and dry:
Clean your feet with soap, scrub them gently to remove the dirt, and wash them thoroughly with water when you take a bath.
Dry your feet using a towel because if your feet are wet, they may attract fungal organisms on. Make sure to wipe the moisture between each toe.
Right after the shower, you can perform a self-examination and check on the soles of your feet. See if there are peeling areas that could be early signs of Athlete’s Foot.
If you have diabetes or other skin diseases, it is a must to let your feet stay clean and dry since your body is vulnerable to infections and foot sores.
Use soaps that are mild and hypoallergenic so your skin will not react to them.
Be Smart And Be Active
Another tip is to be physically active and act smart. Select an activity that you find joy in doing and will enable you to exercise your feet and your toes. Examples of which are football, soccer, swimming, and others.
Have a SMART approach towards health and fitness: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timebound so you can be motivated and you can achieve success.
Maintain Clean Toenails
Clean toenails also send a message to a healthy body. If your nails are discolored, then this could be a symptom of nail fungus. Here are some of the tips on how to maintain beautiful and healthy nails:
Clean your nails from time to time by simply removing the dirt with a soft nail brush.
Cut your nails straight across and avoid cutting the nail too close to your skin. It can cause ingrown toenails and could be very painful.
If your nails are cracked, crumbling, or very thin, this could be a sign of nail fungus. Consult a doctor if you experience such symptoms and do not hide bad or ugly nails using a colored polish.
Perform Foot Stretches Regularly
Some foot stretches can promote optimal foot health especially when you do it on a regular basis.
Here are some of the foot stretches that you can try now:
Big Toe Stretch
Hacky Sack Grab Exercise
Indeed, foot stretches can help in lengthening the tight toe muscles. You might feel some pain when you do the stretching. However, the pain is just passing, and it will soon become okay. When the muscles in the toes and feet remain tight, you can be at risk of developing various foot problems in the end.
Protect Your Feet By Selecting Proper Footwear
Another tip to maintain optimal foot health is through proper selection of footwear. Here are some of the tips regarding footwear that you should consider before purchasing new shoes:
When you are in the gym, market, mall, hospital, train, or any other public places, always see to it that your feet are well protected. You can wear closed shoes with clean socks to prevent the spread of fungi that could potentially lead to infections in your feet.
Avoid sharing shoes with friends, relatives, and other persons. You can acquire fungal infections by using the shoes of other people.
Wear socks to keep your feet dry. Choose socks that are made of synthetic fibers because these can dry moisture better than wool socks or cotton.
Buying the right shoes could be very challenging for some of us. Apart from the design and the price, you also need to consider various factors so you can wear them without hassles. Here are some of the tips for buying the right shoes:
Always opt for shoes that are breathable to help your feet stay dry and healthy.
Choose leather shoes so the air can circulate freely.
For sweaty feet, opt for shoes that are made of mesh fabric to prevent excessive sweating and foul odor.
Wear shoes that are according to your size. Shoes that are too tight can cause problems in the end. You can go for shoes with a rounded shape that has plenty of room for your toes. They must also have a stable and wide heel. Avoid buying pointy heels because this can cramp your toenails and cause calluses and ingrown toenails.
Use A Toe Separator Daily
You should also consider wearing a toe separator daily to improve the condition of your toes and your feet.
The toe separator can realign your toes and create a space in between them. Over time, you can transition to the use of toe spacers to help treat overlapping toes and bunions.
Conclusion
In sum, your feet have a major role in the functioning of your body, and proper care must be taken to make them healthy and good looking. Your feet can send various messages about your whole body’s health. Thus you must be aware of the signs and symptoms you notice firsthand.
Finally, consult a doctor immediately if you are experiencing redness, swelling, allergies, or pain in your feet. If you need to undergo surgeries, you can claim on your insurance from those like Members Own Health Fund. Don’t try self-medication, especially if you can’t handle the pain anymore.
Jessica Wilson
Jessica is a professional health expert who works for some major health industry giants. She currently writes for Membersown and is dedicated to helping people learn more about health related topics along the journey. When she's not a health advocate, she enjoys some down time traveling or talking with family.