HEALTHY FEET THE OMY WAY

Healthy feet account for fifty percent of OMY’s feet. The other fifty percent? Well, this article is going to talk about them. Stick around, though; if you have healthy feet, I will show you how to keep them that way.

Our feet are the Rodney Dangerfield of our body, remember him? He’s the guy whose classic line was “I don’t get no respect” Well, we humans take our feet for granted and don’t give ’em no respect.

Speaking of respect, we’ll look at the five most common foot problems and what you can do about them. After that, we will talk about how you can keep your feet happy.

Five Foot Problems:

Let’s talk about each of these issues in succession.

Bunions:

Bunions are common and usually (but not always) are between your big toe and the bone where it’s connected. This condition can be from an infection, physical damage, arthritis, or misalignment between your toe and the bone behind it. Bunions can be temporary or permanent.

Before anything else, let me say that dealing with a bunion is much easier if you act earlier to the bunion with preventative measures. Healthy feet usually will resolve bunions with non-invasive treatments. Below, under “prevention,” I will give you information on what to do with bunions.

Bunions can come and go, but you will usually have early warning signals to save you lots of pain and trouble. Look for soreness, redness, and swelling in the areas I described. Deal with this as soon as possible. I will give instructions for preventative foot care later in this post.

Hammertoes:

These can be one toe or many on one foot or both. This condition is only in your small toes, where the tip of your toes “kink” downward. With massage and joint manipulations, healthy feet will sometimes get toe kinks that can be “worked out.”

You can often check your toe’s flexibility to see if you’re making progress. Like any joint, flexibility without pain is a good sign. If this condition is permanent, recurs often, or spreads to other toes, you should see your PHCP and get expert care, including surgery.

Heel Pain:

There can be a lot of reasons for this. Still, inflammation of the ligament group that connects your heel to your toes is a condition called Plantar Fasciitis which can range from uncomfortable to very painful.

This condition can go away on its own or can require orthotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Again, you probably won’t wake up with this. It will almost always start slow, come and go, but will worsen without treatment.

For healthy feet, take sore and achy feet seriously. These are warnings of things to come. At this stage, there are options available, but full-blown Plantar Fasciitis is very difficult to deal with and very painful.

Calluses:

We all have calluses to some extent. We get them on our feet and our hands. Healthy feet have calluses, but they can get out of control. Thick, hardened calluses on the top of foot bone bumps can be painful and, when bad enough, will need surgical removal.

Like most issues, catching these early and treating them will be pretty straightforward. If you’re bothered with many calluses, consult your PCHP to discuss your options.

Nail Issues:

Where do I start? How about toenail fungus?

Toenail fungus is ubiquitous but usually harmless. It’s a fungus-like one that causes jock itch, ringworm, and yeast infections. It is treatable with medications and creams, but expect it to be challenging. It’s easier to prevent it because it’s more likely to come back once infected.

OK, other things: Ingrown toenails, infections, split toenails, all of these, and more can cause you problems, and as always, stay out front of these to keep them nothing but minor nuisances. Keep healthy feet.

One last thing, and take this seriously. Check your feet for cancer at least once a month. Pay particular attention to changes in toenail color. Melanomas can grow under your toenails, which must be treated by a professional. Check the bottom of your feet and between your toes as well. If you have any questions, see your PHCP – be safe, not sorry.

Prevention: Keep Your Feet Healthy

First, let me say that many other conditions might need attention than the five I listed above. Take your healthy feet seriously, and keep them that way.

Now I’m going to give you some tips and advice on preventative foot care:

Shoes:

Before anything else, check your shoes. Many problems come from poorly made shoes and shoes that don’t fit properly. Shoes are one thing you shouldn’t skimp on with pricing. Good shoes will cost you more but always be in your best long-term interests.

Buy your shoes from a company whose primary business is shoes and fits them to your feet. Don’t buy shoes at a big-box store that sells them. Better brands know that their shoes need to be fitted and only sell their products through shoe stores.

Keep several pairs of well-fitting shoes on hand and change them daily (socks too). Allow shoes to “rest” for a few days between wearing. Resting allows shoes to dry out and discourages mold and fungus from growing in a damp, warm environment.

Buy repairable shoes. Have your shoes cleaned and repaired professionally. The “uppers” of high-quality shoes will last through several repairs and serve your healthy feet for years.

Go Barefoot and Show your Healthy Feet to the Sun.

Toenail fungus and other parasites (some viruses-warts) prefer dampness and darkness. On the other hand, they can die in a dry environment and sunlight. Go outside with bare feet, or sit awhile with your toes in the sunlight.

Don’t go too long and get your feet sunburnt. Do this in the mid-morning or late afternoon. Getting sun exposure once a week goes a long way to keep toenail fungus and athlete’s foot under control and promote healthy feet.

Wearing different shoes every day helps this along as well. Toenail fungus can be extremely difficult to get rid of – much better not to get it in the first place. Go barefoot often, and wear sandals when you can’t go barefoot.

Wash and Moisturize your Feet:

Wash your feet thoroughly with plain soap and water when you shower or bathe. Use a soft brush under and around nails. Pay attention to areas between your toes and regions surrounding your toenails.

Dry your feet thoroughly and allow them to air-dry for at least ten minutes. Shoes and socks seal in moisture. When your feet are dry, moisturize them with a cream designed for feet. Here’s what I use: https://www.cerave.com.

Moisturizing your feet after washing them aids in the cream’s absorption. This moisture cream works anywhere on your body. If you have rough or scaly skin, Cerave has a cream for that condition.

NOTE: Other than using their products, I have no relationship with Cerave, and I don’t make money when you buy them.

Toenail Care:

Toenails are subject to many problems and need daily attention. Toenail fungus is ubiquitous and difficult to eliminate. Split toenails allow for infections to enter the nail bed. Be sure to remove hangnails with a small scissor.

If you have athlete’s foot, you have a good chance of getting toenail fungus. It comes down to nail trimming and cleaning Us an anti-fungal foot powder until the athlete’s foot clears up. Also, the fungus can hide in socks and shoes. Use an anti-fungal spray or powder in your shoes and wash your socks in hot water with chlorine bleach – this will kill the fungus.

Here’s a link that will give you more instructions on toenail care: https://www.medicinenet.com

Foot Exercises:

We don’t often think of exercising our feet, but here’s a “healthy foot” morning routine anyone can follow:

1. When you wake up in the morning, sit up straight on the side of your bed with yout feet flat on the floor.
2. Raise your feet straight out in front of you.
3. with both feet, point your toes out as far as you can (tightening your calves), then point your feet back at yourself (stretching your calves). Do these movements slowly and move your feet forward and back as far as you can. Do this ten times.
4. Move all your toes on each foot around in a circle for about a minute – clockwise and counterckockwise. You can do this with both feet together or one foot at a time. This will losen yp yout ankles.
5. Reach down and massage your calf muscles with your fingers – dug in, and pull your fingers towards you. You can do this as long as you want. It is very relaxing, it helps move blood through your calves, and will prevent cramps. (Blood may pool overnight in your calves.)
6. This is the final step, and very important. Stand up – still with bare feet – and lean slightly forward against a wall. As you’re leaning against the wall stand on your toes and try to “grab” the floor with your toes. Do this grabbing several times as you stand on your toes.

Benefits of Foot Exercises:

This morning routine promotes healthy feet by stretching and strengthening your calves and the small muscles in your fee. It also gets fresh oxygenated blood to your feet and leg Blood circulation is of the utmost importance for healthy feet. See BLOOD FLOW.

Note: If you’re doing the balance-improving routine I suggested, you’re already beginning to strengthen the muscles in your feet and legs. If not, read here: BALANCE EXERCISE.

Summing Up:

Giving your feet the love and attention they deserve will result in healthy feet. They’ve been carrying you around most of your life, so give ’em a big thank you.

Wait, before you leave, check out my next post: HEALTHY BONE TRIAD.

OMY1

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