9 Habits That May Be Harmful For The Feet’s Health
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It’s amazing how the human body works. When everything is working fine, we hardly ever realize which are the organs and muscles that are working in tandem to keep it going. But, when one thing goes off balance, the entire body feels its effects! The best example is when we hurt one of our feet. Everything goes haywire, and we feel its effect through the whole body including the back, the neck and almost everything else.
But did you know that some seemingly harmless habits may actually be hurting our feet and may be harmful to its overall health? Read on to find out the habits that you need to kick (no pun intended), to keep your feet and your entire body happy!
1. Avoid Cutting Ingrown Toe Nails On Your Own
Those are the most annoying ones, aren’t they? Almost like a hiker who has lost his way and has gone in the wrong direction! However, no matter how annoying they may be, it is not advisable to remove them at home without using proper sterile instruments. Because removing this means you’ll need to pull out some skin in the process, which might lead to infection. Known as ‘pyogenic granuloma’, this is a painful fleshy growth that tends to appear on the toe when you fiddle with an ingrown nail (1).
2. Never Run Long Kilometers In New Shoes
We all know that happy feeling of new shoes on our feet, especially if they are well fitting and comfortable. While it’s ok to love your new shoes and also show them off, it is an absolute no-no to run in them for long distances. Since your feet still aren’t used to the shoes and they haven’t been “broken into” yet, it is best to avoid new shoes for long runs. Especially if you’re an athlete, never opt for new shoes before a big race because they might lead to injuries like blisters and sprains.
3. Don’t Presume That Your Shoe Size Won’t Change
Shoe sizes can change drastically in a year. Also, different brands have different sizes, even though the size may be the same on paper. So, it is always wise to check the size that fits you properly before making a purchase.
4. Don’t Use The Same Shoe Size For Sports And Lifestyle
Since it’s the same feet, the same shoe size should do, right? Well, actually, no. Since being physically active like playing a sport or exercising involves more movement, it’s important for the feet to get more breathing space. So, it is advisable to use a bigger shoe size for sports and other physically demanding activities like running or playing, than your regular shoes that you wear on a daily basis.
5. Don’t Wear Shoes That Are Too Flat
This is totally against what we have all been advised all our lives! We have always been told that heels are bad for the joints and the back and that wearing heels may also result in paralysis (gosh!). But turns out that wearing shoes that are super flat is also not a very good idea. The sole of our feet need some sort of cushions or shock absorbers and flats don’t provide that, which may lead to pain due to repeated stress or even fractures and other complications like tendinitis and metatarsalgia (2).
6. Don’t Wear Shoes That Are Too Old And Worn
We all have that favorite pair of shoes, don’t we, that we just want to keep on wearing forever and ever till it’s worn to the soles? Turns out that’s not a very good thing either. The simple reason behind this being that worn shoes don’t offer enough support and they may also cause the feet to land on the ground in a weird angle, which in turn, may hurt the joints, especially the ankles.
7. Don’t Walk Barefoot In Public Places Like Locker Rooms Or Public Restrooms
This is kind of common sense, actually. Walking bare feet in these public areas may lead to fungal, bacterial and also possible viral infections as the spaces are always wet and moist. The best thing to do is to wear chappals or flip-flops.
8. Don’t Run Or Jog Without Socks
While some of us feel more comfortable with socks, there are some amongst us who do not like the feel of socks on their toes. But not wearing socks and going for a run is actually very bad for your feet. Not only do the socks offer a kind of friction to your feet so they don’t slip, they also absorb your sweat to keep you from slipping (again), and act another layer of safety for your feet.
9. Don’t Wear Running Shoes For Anything Apart From Running
Wearing the same footwear for all sports is a bad idea. This is because shoes for a particular sport are designed in a particular way – running shoes help in moving forward, whereas a basketball shoe or tennis shoe would be better adapted for running sideways. Thus, mixing your shoes with your physical activity may harm as well as hurt your feet.
Know any athletes or physically active people who could make use of this advice? Share this article with them!
