Foot Care Basics: The Importance of Foot Care for Overall Health
Prioritizing Foot Health Increases Overall Wellness
Our feet are more than just movement makers that look great in our favorite shoes. Keeping feet strong and supported is just the beginning when preventing common foot problems. Healthy feet support the life-enhancing trio of posture, balance, and circulation, elevating life in many subtle and essential ways. Maintaining our body’s structural integrity and preventing many health conditions are critical gains in prioritizing foot health.
Benefits of Great Posture
Where does great posture begin? You guessed it, good posture starts at our feet. As the foundation of posture, healthy, well-supported feet aid in head-to-toe alignment. Proper alignment distributes your weight from your toes through your spine. This helps to reduce pain, injury, and excessive strain.
Balance and Back Pain
Proper foot mechanics help maintain the balance of your ankles, knees, hips, and spine, reducing the likelihood of misalignment that can lead to headaches, shoulder pain, and even poor moods. It is important to be intentional about maintaining proper posture, whether walking, sitting, or standing. If you are experiencing back pain, start with your feet to remedy the issue. Custom orthotics are non-surgical tools that help improve balance and reduce pain.
Boost Circulation
Diabetic neuropathy, or nerve damage from diabetes, can decrease your ability to feel heat, cold, or foot pain and lead to limb loss. The good news is that the onset of foot complications like neuropathy can be prevented by prioritizing foot health and properly fitting footwear. Healthy feet boost circulation and support vascular health, which are essential to preventing neuropathy and circulatory issues.
Here are 3 simple things you can do for improved overall wellness with foot care:
Regular foot and ankle checks.
You know your feet better than anyone else. Inspect your feet for any signs of swelling, pain, or ingrown toenails. You should consult a doctor if you experience tenderness or stiffness in the ankle or foot.
Pamper and Moisturize.
Proper maintenance includes attention to the body’s largest organ, the skin. Keeping the skin of your feet and ankles clean and moisturized is a simple gateway to wellness. Check your feet for cuts, calluses, and discoloration. Activities like foot soaks with Epsom salt can be beneficial, but they tend to dry out the feet, so be sure to moisturize.
Move Those Feet.
Keep those feet moving. Whether indoors or outdoors, ensure you have good quality, supportive footwear. Stretching and strengthening your feet with foot exercises only takes a few minutes and can be done while standing or sitting in a chair. When your feet function at their prime, the whole body benefits. the entire kinetic chain operates smoothly, reducing the risk of chronic back pain and improving overall body mechanics.
Prioritize Your Foot Health
Caring for your feet isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about supporting your entire body. Simple habits like choosing well-fitted shoes, practicing good hygiene, and incorporating foot-strengthening exercises can go a long way in keeping your feet healthy. By prioritizing your foot health, you’re investing in your overall well-being, ensuring that your body stays strong and balanced from the ground up.
If you are ready to take a few steps toward wellness or have questions about foot or back pain, consult with an orthopaedist. If you live in Central Texas, give CTX Foot and Ankle Center a call at 254-313-9559 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Bednarz and start your journey to happy, healthy feet today.
