| - 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 over 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! |
