Foot Care

General Foot Care Tips

• Wash your feet daily. Rinse off all soap and dry thoroughly, especially between toes.
• Trim nails straight across, and not too short. Don't cut out or dig at corners.
• Do not trim, shave, or use over-the-counter medicines to dissolve corns or calluses.
• Wear clean socks or stockings, changed daily. Don't wear any that are too short or too tight.
• Ensure your shoes fit well.

The Right Fit for Your Shoes

• Only you can tell if shoes fit. If they aren't comfortable, don't buy them!
• Don't plan on shoes stretching with wear. If you already own shoes that are too tight, ask your shoe repair shop if they can be stretched.
• Because feet spread with age, have your feet measured every time you buy shoes. Both feet should be measured as they are often different sizes. Always buy shoes for the BIGGEST foot.
• Go shoe shopping late in the afternoon. Feet swell to their largest then.
• Size depends on shoe make and style, too. Don't insist you always wear one size if the next feels better.
• The toe box should be roomy enough so you can wiggle all your toes.
• Your forefoot should NOT be wider than your shoe.
• The heel should fit snugly and the instep should not gape open.
• If you can't find shoes that fit, ask your doctor for advice.

The foot is the most complicated part of our body, yet the least cared for. It is estimated that thirty percent of the population has some type of foot problem or injury.

Sixty percent of the population is overweight and forty percent of the work force is on their feet more than four hours per day. These are staggering numbers. It is no wonder that so many people have problems with their feet! Both extra weight and prolonged pressure on the feet lead to a variety of foot disorders.

For example, when a faulty stride or extended walking causes the plantar fascia (the band of connective tissue that runs from the heel to the toe) to stretch too tautly, one feels the severe heel and arch pain of plantar fasciitis. Similarly, prolonged standing on a hard surface can cause many other foot problems to occur.

There are a variety of great products on the market that help relieve and prevent foot pain. These include Custom Made Orthotics (which can also help back, hip, knee and ankle pain), gel heel cushions, non-prescription foot orthotics and so much more.