Are your feet ready for summer?

Did you know that your foot has 26 bones, 33 joints and over 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments. As we age, these bones and joints degenerate and the protective subcutaneous fat pad in the sole may diminish. Poor fitting shoes, excessive load or constant friction from physical activity all aggravate foot conditions which can show up more after the age of 60. It’s also not uncommon to find arthritis, clawing of the toes, bunions, corns and calluses and nail problems in our older clients.

Maintaining flexible and healthy feet so that you can enjoy your lifestyle as you age requires a little extra care. Implementing some good foot wellness habits at home, will pay benefits on the journey ahead. To help you, our Foot Health practitioners Louise and Fay have put together some simple tips for looking after your feet.

• Make sure you keep your feet clean. You should aim to wash them every day in warm, soapy water to keep them looking and smelling fresh. Soaking them for prolonged periods on a regular basis could do more harm than good, this can wash away the natural oils your body produces, leading to dry, cracked skin and other issues.
• Use a foot file or a pumice stone to gently remove any hard skin or calluses that are building up in high pressure areas, like on the balls of your feet or your heels. Do be gentle, though. Excessive filing can work through and damage the new skin underneath.
• After washing your feet, dry them well to avoid moisture lingering. Concentrate especially on the areas between your toes, where constant dampness can help promote the growth of fungal infections, like athlete’s foot.
• Look after your nails. You should always trim them across in a straight line; never try to shape them at an angle or round them. If you do this, you run the risk of the nails growing at an uneven pace and causing ingrown toenails, a painful condition that can result in inflammation, bleeding and even infection.
• If you are prone to dry skin, use a moisturising cream on your feet regularly – but avoid the areas between the toes.

Take Care When Shoe Shopping

One of the biggest causes of foot problems, as we mentioned, is wearing badly fitting shoes or fashion shoes that force your feet into tight toes and the like. But socks can also cause harm. Make sure you buy the right size – too large and they may bunch in areas around your feet and rub. Too small around the ankle or in the toes, and they may result in reducing the blood circulation.

In terms of shoes, always wear the right kind for the type of activity you’re doing – so get specialist advice if you exercise by running or walking long distances, for instance. If you must wear high heels, try and limit the time you spend in them. Varying the height of heel, you wear can also help.

Finally, one last handy hint: if you’re going shoe shopping, go in the afternoon! Your feet naturally swell as the day goes on, so afternoon shoe shopping helps you choose a pair that are comfortable all day long.
If your feet are feeling neglected and unloved, perhaps a visit to our Foot health clinic will get them feeling and looking good! Treatments are available on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 8.30 – 5pm.

​Call our reception team to find out more!