Home Foot Health Tips

Did you know that your feet combined contain more than 50 bones, which accounts for about one-fourth of all the bones in your body, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA)? Also, your feet together have 60 joints and more than 200 muscles, tendons, and ligaments that hold them together and help them move. With so many bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments, your foot health is important to move daily.

For such a small part of the human body, your feet play a dominant role. Just walking around with many pounds placed on them can put a lot of wear and tear on them. So, it’s a good idea to pay attention to your feet to help prevent pain or infection.

Achiness or pain in your feet can have many causes, and you shouldn't ignore foot pain or regard it as a regular part of life. If you pay attention to your foot health daily, it can help you prevent significant foot pain.

4 At-Home Tips to Help Manage Your Foot Health

Here are a few at-home tips to help you manage your foot health.

Check Your Feet Daily

A minor scrape gone unnoticed may cause a foot infection. To prevent injury or infections from worsening, it’s essential to inspect your feet every day for cuts, blisters, bruises, cracked skin, color changes, or swelling. Use a mirror to help you look at the soles of your feet too. If you find any foot injuries, be sure to contact your doctor.

Wash Your Feet Daily

Wash your feet with soap and warm water every day to help prevent foot infections. Make sure to clean between your toes too. Make sure to dry your feet thoroughly, especially between the toes. Once dry, use a non-allergic, moisturizing cream or lotion that can help keep the skin from cracking, especially around the heels. Do not apply cream between the toes as moisture may cause blisters, according to Diabetes.org.

Wear Shoes and Socks

One way to protect your feet is to wear shoes and socks. It’s important to not walk around barefoot, even at home. If you’re at home and don’t want to wear your shoes, you can opt for a comfortable pair of slippers. Slippers will help protect your feet from injury and help keep your feet warm and comfortable when walking around. When purchasing shoes, make sure the shoe is comfortable and fits your foot well. And, make sure to wear socks as much as possible to help prevent blisters. If you wear hosiery, make sure it’s not too tight.

Keep the Blood Flowing

It’s important to manage your foot’s blood circulation to help prevent foot problems. To help keep the blood flowing, put your feet up when sitting. Try to wiggle your toes for five minutes a few times a day to keep the circulation moving. And don’t cross your legs for long periods of time because this can impact the blood flow.

The contents of this blog were independently prepared, and are for informational purposes only. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not necessarily indicative of the views of any other party. Individual results may vary depending on a variety of patient-specific attributes and related factors.