Foot Pain No More

Apart from the occasional pedi, women tend to use and abuse their feet—maybe because “foot care” has less-than-sexy connotations. But hey, bunions and bone spurs happen…a lot. Research from the nation’stop doctors shows that most people have a foot injury of some sort by age 40, and women undergo the majority of common-problem foot surgeries. Sidestep heinous maladies by treating your feet right. 

Foot Foes
Genes play a leading role in female foot woes. So does anatomy. In general, women have narrower heels and weaker joints than men do. Plus, irregular menstrual cycles and lower-fat diets can decrease bone mass, putting women at increased risk for ankle sprains and dislocated foot bones. Also, wider hips mean that some women are predisposed to walking knock-kneed, which can throw off the body’s alignment and stance, and potentially lead to foot injuries.

High Times 
Stilettos can make your feet hurt like hell for a reason. One-inch heels can increase the pressure on your feet by about 22 percent. Two inches can add up to 57 percent, and three inches can add a whopping 76 percent. That pressure means toes are crammed into a tight area, and the long-term results can be very unsultry bunions or clawlike hammertoes. What’s more, so much weight shifting onto the feet causes calf muscles to clench up and eventually tighten, making it hard to walk normally even on days you wear flats. Platform and wedge shoes are a bit kinder, but most still have an unnatural incline.

Happy Feet 
No, you don’t have to pack your closet exclusively with Crocs. Just follow these tips: 

- Try not to stand or walk around in heels higher than two inches for more than four hours straight.

- Remember that feet can still grow and spread throughout adulthood (especially after pregnancy) and tend to be at their most swollen at the end of the day, so do your shoe shopping in the afternoon. Have your feet measured every year to make sure you’re buying the right size. 

- For extra heel and arch cushioning, slip orthopedic inserts into your flats. Most won’t fit into skimpy high heels, so  use  Foot Care  there instead. You can buy without leave your home, see http://naturalleigh.com/intensive-foot-care,data:text/mce-internal,

- As your body’s essential support system, your feet can take a lot of weight, but “every pound you gain means an extra three pounds of pressure in your ankle region,” says Raikin. Yet another reason to always maintain a healthy weight. 

- To keep your feet limber, do stretches such as writing the alphabet with pointed toes; to massage your arches, roll your feet over a tennis ball for a few minutes a day; and to stretch your ankle and calf, extend your knee, place a towel around the ball of your foot, and pull toes toward you. 

Cures for Common Problems 
Blisters: Using a needle that’s been disinfected with rubbing alcohol, make a small hole at the edge of each blister and drain any fluid. Apply a topical antibiotic like bacitracin or Neosporin and cover with a fresh adhesive bandage each day for three days. 

Callouses: Soak your feet in warm water with Epsom salts for 15 to 20 minutes, then rub a pumice stone over your calluses to remove dry, tough skin. Finish with a rich, moisturizing foot cream.  Stay tuned Soon we’ll have more news!!!