The new year is just a few short days away, and for many that means it’s time to start getting serious about their resolutions for 2017. One of the most common personal goals is improving fitness and developing healthier habits.
We’re here to offer a bit of advice, and a bit of help on that front: don’t forget your feet! They’re your foundation, so they need attention, too—and if your feet are hurting, it’s hard to find the energy to keep the rest of your body in shape!
Remember these tips for keeping feet fit, healthy, and free from pain:
- Stretch and exercise your feet and lower legs regularly to keep them strong and agile. Calf stretches are a great antidote for painful conditions like Achilles tendinitis and plantar fasciitis. Heel raises, toe stretches, and even curling towels or picking up marbles with your toes while you sit are good stretches to try.
- Clean your feet daily and keep them moisturized.
- Are you planning to start up a new exercise and fitness program? That’s great! But make sure you don’t attack it with too much gusto, at least not at first. Your entire body, including your feet, will need time to adjust to more intense activity. If you try to do too much, too fast, the result could be injury and pain—and a loss of motivation to continue.
- Make sure you always wear shoes that are activity-appropriate, fit you correctly, and are in good repair. If you make a habit of wearing high heels, flip flops, shoes for the wrong sport, or worn out sneakers that have lost their cushioning and support, pain is sure to follow.
Following these tips can help you focus on improving foot fitness—and keep you dedicated to full body fitness, since painful feet are less likely to sap your resolve! If you do find your lower limbs feeling the pain and stress, though, resolve to visit the team at Family Foot & Ankle Center. We offer a wide variety of effective treatment solutions for foot pain, most of which are relatively simple and do not require surgery. Give us a call today at (888) 689-3317 to schedule your appointment at one of our six Greater Cincinnati locations.
