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Do - |
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Don'ts - |
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WALK! This is the best form of exercise for your feet. |
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Take life lying down. Regardless of your physical condition,
walking is beneficial. |
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Wear properly fitting, protective footwear even in your
own home. |
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Go barefoot. This increases the risk of injury and infection
and provides no support for either the foot or ankle. |
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Use ice (cold) to treat an injury. This treatment produces
a numbing effect and prevents swelling and pain. |
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Use heat or hot water to treat a foot or ankle injury.
Heat promotes blood flow, causing increased swelling. |
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Investigate "walking pumps." These shoes have
an athletic shoe-derived construction, wider toe room, reinforced
heels and are available in many fashionable styles. |
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Wear heeled shoes that exceed two inches for extended periods
of time - this is an open invitation for foot problems such
as metatarsalgia (pain in the ball of the foot). |
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Seek medical attention at the first sign of an injury or
infection in the foot or ankle. Treatments require an investment
of time and sometimes include surgery - the foot isn't just
a beauty concern. |
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Wear athletic shoes for sports other than the ones for
which they were intended - one style does not fit all! Don't
wear any sports shoe beyond its useful life. |
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Consult a podiatric physician regularly. There are 300
different foot ailments, none of which should be neglected. |
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Ignore foot pain. Contrary to popular belief, foot pain
is not normal! |
