Walking is something that many of us do on a regular basis. We walk to the store, we walk to work, we walk for fun, and we probably walk around the house quite a bit. But walking is something that we tend to do in short bursts and there aren’t many situations where we’ll walk more than 30 minutes. If we have to travel somewhere, then we’re more likely to take public transport or just drive.
But there are some common situations where we might end up walking more. For example, if you’re on holiday and want to enjoy all of the sights and sounds around you, then you might find it easier to just walk from one destination to another. Similarly, you might also be walking a bit more because you want to lose weight and get healthier. These are all valid reasons to walk more, but if you’re not accustomed to it then it can cause problems for your feet.
In this post, we’re going to look at how you can look after your feet if you do plan to walk for longer periods of time.
Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/0XHo26Jb8dk (CC0)
Make sure you trim your toenails
Trimming your toenails is a good way to ensure that they don’t rub against and scratch other toes when you walk. This also helps to reduce the chances of having an ingrown toenail which can be particularly painful. Toenail trimming is relatively simple and you can usually use a proper nail-cutting tool or just manicure scissors if you’re more comfortable with them. Stick to this and make sure you do it on a regular basis to avoid toenail-related problems.
Wear the right footwear
Depending on where you go, it’s important to wear the right footwear. There are a couple of considerations to keep in mind when choosing comfortable footwear. For starters, it has to feel comfortable as soon as you wear it. While there is certainly a “break-in” period for shoes, you don’t want to spend too long wearing a shoe if it’s uncomfortable. Make sure the shoe is wide enough so that it doesn’t squeeze against your foot, and try to walk around in the shoe for a bit before you decide on it. It should support your foot and be comfortable as you hit the ground.
Foot-related pain
If you have foot-related pain then the first place to visit would be your doctor. However, you could skip this and go straight to a foot and ankle clinic such as www.thefootandankle.clinic. These specialists understand a lot more about the foot and why foot pain occurs compared to a general family doctor, and they can make suggestions based on your lifestyle and even do a full examination of your foot to determine why you’re getting pain.
Remember to rest your feet as well
If you’re not used to walking a lot and then suddenly try to run a marathon, then your feet are going to hate you. Make sure you take regular breaks when walking and aim to rest your feet as often as possible.
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