7 Ways to Keep Your Feet Healthy & Happy

Healthy feet are a necessary component of enjoying the outdoors

…and nothing is more miserable than having sore feet.

Given the warmer weather, you probably want to go outside. This week, I am sharing seven easy suggestions about how to keep your feet healthy and ‘happy.’

Soak and Massage

Show your feet some ‘love’ by soaking them in a warm Epsom salt bath. Then, give yourself a foot massage, being sure to work your fingers between the toes. Massaging the feet can stimulate blood flow and relax your muscles overall.

Do toe exercises

When watching television or reading, do some toe exercises. Press the big toes down and raise your other toes. Then lift the big toes up, pressing the other toes down. Repeat 3-4 times.

When sitting or standing, raise all the toes, lowering one toe at a time until all five toes are down. Start with the big toes and then repeat continuing with the other toes.

Next, try raising one toe at a time, starting with the two big toes. Repeat, starting with the two smaller toes.

Sometimes foot pain is caused by tight calf muscles

Stretch your calves

This can be done almost anywhere. Step one foot forward with the knee bent so that the back toes are pointed forward with the heel on the ground and the leg straight. Hinge at the hip-crease until you feel a stretch in the back leg. Pause for 30 seconds. Then switch legs.

Calf muscles can become tight when sitting, especially if your feet are not flat on the ground.

Place your feet on a supportive surface

When sitting at my desk, I always set my feet on a small box that functions as support when I cannot reach the floor.

Another possible cause of foot discomfort is ankle stiffness

Flex your ankles

Sit in a chair, gently gripping one knee with your hand. Flex the ankle by rolling onto the outer edge and then the inner edge of the foot. Gripping the knee keeps the leg from moving so that only the ankle is flexing. Do this 5-6 times. Then repeat with the other ankle.

Examine your shoes

Distribute weight evenly when you walk

Uneven wear and tear on the bottom of your shoes can be a sign that you’re walking is uneven. Notice how you step forward as you walk. Is the foot flat, or are you pressing down more on the outer or inner edge of the foot?

Remember, 60% of your weight should be in the heels, and 40% in the front of the foot. Your weight needs to be distributed evenly between the inner and the outer edge of the foot. Become conscious of your approximate weight distribution whenever standing. Adjust your stance as needed.

Walking barefoot is healthy for your feet

Of course, you need to make sure that the area that you walk on is safe. When your feet are in shoes, the bones cannot move much. The muscles get strong only when the bones move.

With warmer weather, you might consider wearing flip flops. After all, it’s like walking barefoot but offers some protection for the bottom of the feet.

But is the bottom of your feet the only vulnerability?

Shoes that require you to grip your toes (to keep them on) change the way the end of the bones in the feet connect with the ground, possibly causing tension in the front of the leg — something for you to monitor.

Be kind to your feet. Having ‘happy’ feet encourages you to keep on mov’in.

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