Start your week on the right foot!
Aching feet are often the price we pay for our work and social lives – 1 in 10 people would happily take a pay cut to wear trainers at work and 41% of women have cut short a night out as their feet were hurting so much.
New research from the College of Podiatry has found that 90% of people experience foot problems. Despite this, only 23% of people who have suffered a foot problem have sought professional help, with 16% admitting that they ignore the problem and hope it will simply go away!
We’ve gathered some top tips for happy feet, from Michael Ratcliffe, podiatrist at Carnation Footcare:
1. People are nearly twice as likely to buy shoes that are too small for them than a larger size, which is a big mistake! Michael says: “If your toes overhang the end of the sandal then choose a larger size. If the larger size causes your feet to slip forward in the sandal then use Carnation Footcare Tip Toes Gel Cushions to prevent this”
2. If you wear heels at work or plan on wearing them for an event, try adding gel pads in your shoes to reduce the pressure on the balls of your feet or why not pack a spare pair of comfortable shoes so that at least the journey is comfortable
3. A painful blister is enough to send you home early, Michael explains how to keep wearing your beautiful heels and stop them from causing you any more pain: “Blisters should be left unbroken wherever possible. Use Carnation Anti-Blister Stick or Hydro-blister Care plasters to reduce the friction and protect the area”
4. Make sure you moisturise your whole body; that includes your feet! Restoring hydration and elasticity in the skin can reduce the risk of conditions such as corns, callouses and dry skin.
5. Just as you would treat yourself to a bath after a long day at work, you can always treat your feet to a little bath after being on them all day. Michael says: “Bathe your feet in warm water with a few drops of peppermint oil for 5 minutes and gently towel dry”
6. It is important to relax and stretch out the muscles in your feet, Michael recommends leaving the Carnation Pediroller in the fridge overnight. Then simply, roll your feet back and forth for 5 minutes each to help stretch out the plantar fasciitis and reduce painful feet the next morning.
7. Look for a slight heel when buying new shoes, ideally between 2-4cm, Michael says: “This height is good in terms of stability and can offset any tightness that you may have in your Achilles tendon. Walking in flat heels and tightness in the Achilles tendon can lead to discomfort and pain in the muscles at the back of your leg and potentially lead to heel pain.”
8. One of the most important things you can do for your feet is make sure you’re cutting your toenails the right way, Michael tells us: “Cut your toenails either straight across or in a gentle curve that follows the curve of the end of your toe, do not cut down the sides of your nail as to reduce the risk of ingrown nails.”
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