'We stick them in shoes and forget about them': how to really look after your feet

We often overlook our feet until they start causing us pain, instead of giving them the attention they need. According to experts, we tend to neglect our feet because they're covered and hidden, much like a neglected cart horse.

With over one quarter of all bones in our body residing in our feet, connected by 33 joints and more than 100 tendons and ligaments, it's no wonder that foot pain can be so debilitating. Ankle injuries, which often occur due to poorly chosen footwear or excessive drinking, are on the rise during the silly season, as physiotherapist Dr Kathryn Mills warns. "Party shoes and alcohol make for a deadly combination," she cautions.

However, when it comes to choosing the right shoe, experts stress that health should take precedence over fashion. As physiotherapist Dr Jillian Eyles notes, "Stifling your feet into pointy-toe shoes and wearing high heels all the time is not going to be great for your feet and ankles."

Choosing a shoe that's tailored to your foot shape and size can make all the difference in comfort and support. Hylton Menz, a professor of podiatry at La Trobe University, advises opting for shoes that bend where the foot bends, around the ball of the foot.

Another key aspect is maintaining a healthy weight. "Our entire body weight rests on the soles of our feet," Menz explains. "There's a strong link between foot pain and being overweight." Not only does excess weight put pressure on the feet, but it also exacerbates metabolic issues, making foot pain more likely.

Fortunately, incorporating simple exercises into your daily routine can help maintain foot strength and overall health. Assoc Prof Natalie Collins recommends trying to form an arch with your foot, keeping your toes on the ground and lifting up your arch. Calf raises and toe strengthening activities like standing on a towel or moving your big toe independently are also effective ways to keep your feet in top condition.

By prioritizing our feet and taking steps to care for them, we can prevent unnecessary pain and maintain our overall health and well-being.
 
i feel me πŸ€• too many ppl r out here hurting their feets and dont even realize it πŸ˜‚ like a neglected cart horse yeah? shoes gotta be comfy and support ur arches or u'll be sorry πŸ‘ πŸ’” i remember when i was on vacay last year and wore these pointy-toe shoes my feet were killin me 🀯 after that i started prioritizin foot care and its been a game changer πŸ™Œ exercises like calf raises and toe strengthening activities r a must btw πŸ‹οΈβ€β™€οΈ
 
Omg I'm so guilty of neglecting my feet πŸ€¦β€β™€οΈ! Like, I know they're literally carrying me around all day but I never think about how hard it must be on them 🀯. I've been wearing pointy-toe shoes for ages and I can already see the impact on my poor arches 😩. It's time to switch up my shoe game and prioritize foot health πŸ’ͺ! Has anyone tried those calf raises exercises? πŸ‹οΈβ€β™€οΈ
 
omg i had no idea my feet were doing that much work lol πŸ€―πŸ‘£ i mean i know they're like the foundation of my body or whatever but i never thought about it being so complicated πŸ˜‚ anyway i think this is a good reminder to take care of them, especially after all the holiday partying and stuff. gotta start prioritizing foot health from now on πŸ’…β€β™€οΈπŸ‘  my feet are literally screaming at me right now just thinking about it πŸ‘£πŸ’₯
 
πŸ€―β€β™€οΈ OMG I'm literally shocked that our feet get so much neglect! Like, we know they're super important but come on, let's talk about how comfy our shoes need to be! πŸ‘ πŸ’… I mean, who thought it was a good idea to wear pointy-toe shoes all the time? πŸ˜‚β€β™€οΈ Dr Jillian Eyles is like, totally right - health over fashion, baby! πŸ’β€β™€οΈ Also, can we talk about how easy it is to gain weight and how our feet suffer because of it? πŸ€¦β€β™€οΈ It's like, take care of your overall body and your feet will thank you! 😊 Simple exercises like arch strengthening and toe raises can make all the difference. I'm def adding those to my daily routine ASAP πŸ’ͺ🏼
 
πŸ€” I think people don't take enough care of their feet because they're just so easy to overlook... like I do all the time with my own feet! πŸ˜‚ It's crazy that our feet are carrying around a quarter of our body weight, it's no wonder we should be taking better care of them. 🀯

I mean, have you ever thought about how bad your shoes can be for your ankles? I've had those ankle injuries before and it was so painful... not fun at all. πŸ’” And it's not just about the shoes, but also what you're drinking while wearing them. Too much booze can be a recipe for disaster! 🍻

But seriously, if you want to feel comfortable in your shoes, you gotta prioritize health over fashion. Don't get me wrong, I love a good pair of stylish heels or boots, but not at the expense of my poor feet! πŸ˜‚ It's all about finding that balance and taking care of yourself.

And let's be real, being overweight can really take a toll on your feet... it's like they're carrying around an extra load. 🀯 But there are so many simple exercises you can do to strengthen your feet and ankles... I've been doing those calf raises and toe strengthening activities and it makes a huge difference! πŸ’ͺ
 
I'm telling you, folks πŸ€”, it's all about the foot game here. They're like the unsung heroes of our body, but when they start giving us grief, we turn a blind eye πŸ˜‚. I mean, have you ever stopped to think that your shoes are literally sabotaging your feet? It's like, pointy-toe shoes and high heels are basically designed to crush your arches πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ.

And don't even get me started on the whole weight thing. Our bodies are constantly sending us signals, but we just ignore them because we're too busy living life πŸ™ƒ. "Oh, I'll wear these shoes tomorrow, and maybe my feet won't hurt" πŸ€¦β€β™‚οΈ. Meanwhile, our feet are like, "Uh, NOPE, buddy, we're outta here" πŸ‘ .

Anyway, I guess the takeaway is to take care of those poor, neglected feet of ours πŸ’β€β™€οΈ. Do some toe exercises, get shoes that fit, and maybe, just maybe, we'll avoid that crippling foot pain 😬.
 
🀯 you know I was just talking about how much I love my new shoes πŸ‘  but honestly who cares about fashion when it comes to foot pain? πŸ™„ My friend's cousin got ankle injuries from those party shoes and now she's stuck in a cast for weeks πŸ˜“ and I'm like "duh, why didn't you wear sneakers?" πŸ€¦β€β™€οΈ it's all about prioritizing health over style, right? πŸ’β€β™€οΈ and also can we talk about how important it is to maintain a healthy weight? I've seen people with foot pain who just get that extra slice of pizza and next thing you know they're suffering 😳 gotta take care of those feet! 🧦
 
😊 I'm getting annoyed with people who think shoes are just about looks πŸ™„. It's time to prioritize foot health over fashion! πŸ‘  Those pointy-toe shoes might look cute, but they're basically torture for your poor feet 😩. And don't even get me started on high heels... why do we need to suffer like that? πŸ’β€β™€οΈ A good pair of shoes can make all the difference in comfort and support πŸ™Œ. Let's take care of our feet, guys! πŸ‘£πŸ’ͺ
 
I was reading about this foot thing the other day 🀯 and I'm like, yeah, I neglect my feet all the time! I mean, they're always hidden in shoes or socks, right? πŸ˜‚ It's funny you say that, cart horse analogy... but for real though, have you guys ever thought about how much stress your feet are under when you wear high heels or tight shoes all day? πŸ€• My sister is always complaining about her ankles hurting after a long night out... I'm like, "Duh, you're wearing stilettos!" πŸ˜‚ But seriously, it's not just the shoes. I've been trying to get into yoga more often and I swear it's helped my foot strength so much πŸ’ͺ. And omg, being overweight is no joke for your feet! πŸ€¦β€β™€οΈ My friend lost a bunch of weight last year and she barely gets any foot pain anymore... it's crazy how connected our whole body is to just one part (that being said, I'm not exactly the healthiest person myself πŸ˜‚). Anyway, back to this article... what do you guys think? Should we all just start taking care of our feet more? πŸ€”
 
Ugh, I'm over here tripping over my own feet lol πŸ˜‚πŸ‘£. Who knew our poor toes needed that much TLC? πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ On a serious note tho, I think it's crazy how often we neglect our feet until they start screaming for help. πŸ‘ πŸ’… We need to start giving them the love and care they deserve! πŸ’–
 
🀝 You know what's wild? We're so busy focusing on other parts of our body that get attention, like our face or back, but our poor feet are just chillin' in the background, bearing all the weight...literally! πŸ˜‚ I mean, it makes total sense that we'd neglect them since they're hidden under those crazy shoes we wear. But what if we told you that your feet have a say in how healthy or not-so-healthy you'll be? πŸ€” It's like our bodies are trying to tell us something: take care of the foundation, and the rest will follow! πŸ’ͺ So yeah, don't be that person who overdoes it on those party shoes or skips stretching. Your feet (and the rest of your body) will thank you in the long run. πŸ™
 
πŸ€• shoes r 4gettin bout our poor feet πŸ™ƒ u gotta put ur foot down 4 real. stil wearin those pointy toes n high heels? r u tryna torture yoself? get fitted 4 ur shoe size, dont be a sheep in wolf's clothing πŸ‘ πŸ’…. and yeah, maintaing weight matters, we r all carryin that weight on our poor feet anyway 😩
 
omg u think people r gonna start payin attention 2 their feet now?? its about time!! i mean, dont get me wrong, i love a good shoe as much as the next person but seriously, our feet are workin hard all day every day & they deserve some TLC πŸ€·β€β™€οΈπŸ’…πŸ». ankle injuries r like, so common bc of stupid shoes & booze πŸΉπŸ˜‚. just wear comfy shoes that dont make ur foot bend in the wrong direction πŸ˜’. annd btw, u dont no how many ppl out there are sufferin from foot pain & nobody even notices 🀫. now's the time 2 take care of our poor feet πŸ‘£πŸ’–
 
πŸ€” I'm not sure why people get so caught up in the party shoes and high heels drama... I mean, yeah they're comfy and all, but think about it - we spend 8 hours a day on those things! My feet are always killing me after a long day of walking or standing. I think it's more about being mindful of our lifestyle choices, you know? Like if you work from home and sit all day, your feet might not get as much action as someone who's always on the go... πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ
 
Umm yeah so like i was talking to my friend about this and they literally forgot their foot existed πŸ˜‚πŸ€£. I mean idk how many ppl think their feet r invisible or somethin πŸ‘ πŸ˜’. It's crazy cuz like u say we got 33 joints n more than 100 tendons & ligaments in our feet 🀯πŸ’₯.

I'm all for fashion but not at the expense of health, tbh πŸ’β€β™€οΈπŸ‘—. Pointy toes n high heels r no joke for ur poor feet πŸ˜“πŸ’”. Just get shoes that fit n take care of ur arches πŸ‘£πŸ’ͺ. And omg don't even get me started on weight πŸ€―πŸ’¦. If u r like 200 lbs or more, it's super important to take care of ur feet πŸ’¨πŸ‘£.

Exercises are key tho πŸ‹οΈβ€β™€οΈπŸ’†β€β™€οΈ. I do toe curls & calf raises all the time n they make a big diff πŸ‘£πŸ’ͺ. Just try formin an arch with ur foot n liftin up 😊. Simple, right? πŸ‘Œ
 
I'm all for looking after our feet πŸ™Œ, but come on, let's not get too carried away here πŸ˜‚. I mean, have you seen the prices of those shoes that cater to your foot shape? It's like they're trying to rob us blind πŸ’Έ. And what about people who can't afford those fancy shoes or even see a podiatrist for a proper check-up? πŸ€”

I get it, we need to prioritize our feet over fashion πŸ‘ , but let's not forget that there are other factors at play here too... like access to healthcare and socioeconomic status πŸ’Έ. I'd love to see more initiatives supporting people from all walks of life to take care of their feet in a way that's affordable and accessible 🌎.

Still, I suppose it's better than nothing πŸ™. Let's just make sure we're not creating a new kind of inequality where those who can afford the best foot care are already ahead of the game πŸ˜’.
 
OMG, I had no idea my poor feet were suffering so much πŸ€―πŸ‘£! I mean, who knew they're carrying like a quarter of our body weight? It's insane how often we take them for granted until it hurts 😩. I'm totally guilty of wearing those awful pointy-toe shoes all the time... gotta get my hands on some comfy shoes ASAP πŸ‘ πŸ’ͺ. And can you believe being overweight is a major contributor to foot pain 🀯?! Losing weight and exercising more should be a priority for me, stat! πŸ’₯πŸ‹οΈβ€β™€οΈ
 
I'm not convinced that just because our feet are hidden from view, we're less likely to take care of them πŸ€”. I mean, think about it, if your feet are in such a bad state, why do people still wear stilettos or tight shoes? It's like they want to torture their poor feet 😩. And what about all the fancy foot creams and oils we buy, just because our feet are hidden from view? Is that really going to make a difference if we're not even taking care of them in the first place? I need some real stats or studies on this before I start waxing poetic about foot health πŸ‘ .
 
come on dont be so extra about foot care lol 🀣 like whats the worst that gonna happen if u wear pointy toe shoes 4 a yr or 2?? its not like ur feet r gonna end up in a wheelbarrow or somethin πŸ˜‚ besides who cares bout fashion, health is more important...just sayin' πŸ‘Ž
 
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