Foot Health - Step into Life with these Foot Care Tips

Foot health is extremely important, but many people neglect to protect their feet and do nothing about it. Unfortunately, most foot health problems are brought on by bad shoes and ill-fitting orthotics or insoles. This article will discuss some of the ways that you can improve your foot health with better footwear and orthotic-style shoe insoles. We will discuss prevention of pain, how to heal after an injury, arch support, and what type of shoes or orthotics you need.

Preventing pain: Foot pain is often caused by improper foot alignment. Our feet are lined up on all four sides, not just our toes. If your shoes or orthotics do not properly align your foot, it can result in tightness around the joints, bones, and tendons. This tightness weakens the body and decreases its ability to protect itself from injuries. One way to prevent pain is to stretch the calves, hamstrings, and Achilles Tops during the day. You can also strengthen these muscles by performing calf raises at the gym, or using a stability ball or Ultraflexx Foot Rocker at home.

Healing after an injury: If you have had an ankle sprain or other foot injury, it is imperative that you get proper medical care. Even one single ankle sprain can severely disrupt the knee and can cause a lot of pain and difficulty in walking and running. It is important to see a podiatrist or foot care doctor right away when you have an ankle injury. A podiatrist will assess your injury and prescribe orthotic shoe inserts and physical therapy. He may also recommend a splint boot or custom fitted orthotics to better help heal your foot.

Arch support braces: If you have flat feet or high arches, the extra weight on the arch can cause a lot of pain. Arch support braces are available for both adults and children to help correct this problem. These braces fit over your orthotics, designed to give you the most arch support while still providing a smooth fit.

Foot health: Podiatrists recognize the importance of maintaining the health of your feet. Improper foot hygiene affects people differently; it doesn't always cause sore joints and tendons, but can also lead to foot fungus that is very difficult to treat. A podiatrist will examine your feet to identify fungus and then prescribe a treatment plan. In some cases, the patient may have to take an antibiotic before the treatment is administered by a podiatrist.

Joint health: Many times, an injury or disease affects more than one body part. When the body parts are affected, there is a decreased range of motion, decreased function and increased pain. It is important that the entire body is taken care of when one body part is suffering.

Your feet are important, just as much as your heart and kidneys. They are an integral part of the structure of the body and need to be cared for just like every other organ. By following proper shoe care, foot pain can be managed. The right insoles for your shoes will help prevent problems that could cause pain, injury and loss of function. Correct shoe selection will help to keep your feet feeling healthy and pain free, however, many forget about arch support when walking around the home. The Powerstep ArchWear Slippers and Powerstep ArchWear Sandals provide comfort and support for around the house.

Toenails and fingernails are not always covered by insurance because they're often considered personal bodily property. When treating foot pain, it is often recommended that patients wear comfortable shoes with proper arch support, no solid soles, good insoles and no tight straps on the laces. Toenails and fingernails can be treated professionally or at home. Some toenail and fingernail treatments are done at the office and others are self-treatment at home.

Heart Disease: One of the biggest causes of death in the United States is heart disease. Heart disease can affect anyone, male or female, old or young. The symptoms of heart disease are high blood pressure, heart attack, heart failure or cardiac arrest. A healthy heart will ensure a healthy body and keeping your feet healthy and in shape enables you to keep active—the main thing that helps to prevent heart disease. If you are suffering from foot pain, you are more likely to be sedentary and less active every day, which will have a compounded effect on your overall health with an increased risk of heart disease.

Ingrown Toenails: Ingrown toenails occur when improperly trimmed or injured toenails grow into the skin of the toe instead of along the nailbed and out cleanly at the front end. This causes a very painful toe, leading to walking with a limp or becoming less active overall—having a negative effect on personal health. To avoid this problem, be sure to trim your toenails and be careful about where you place your feet while you are walking. Watch for skin irritation near the heel area of the feet or between the toes. If you notice any tender skin, contact your doctor. Almost instant pain relief can be sought from a trip to the podiatrist, who will trim away the offending portion of the nail, clean up and disinfect the irritated skin, and get your toenail growing properly again.

Arthritis: Osteoarthritis affects the bone which supports the joints. When bone begins to deteriorate, it can become more easily fractured causing pain in the feet and great pain in the toe. People who wear tight-fitting shoes are more likely to develop osteoarthritis of the foot. So, try a less stiff shoe and wear supportive socks to protect your feet.

Step into life with PowerStep orthotic style shoe insoles. Get the pain relief and prevention you need for optimum foot health and functionality. The feet are the foundation of your overall health—if you can't walk or run, it is incredibly difficult to get the activity levels necessary for minimum daily exercise.