Our feet carry us through life. But we often don’t thank them for it. We can do good for them with simple things. The orthopedist Thomas Schneider from the Gundelfingen Joint Clinic provides ideas for this.
1. Avoid wearing slippers at home
In summer our feet were barefoot in the garden or on the beach. Now in autumn they are wearing closed ankle boots, sneakers and lace-up shoes. It’s pretty tight there sometimes.
If the shoes are too tight, this can cause discomfort. That’s why we should walk long distances in comfortable shoes that leave enough room for our toes.
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Even though the barefoot season is over, we should do something good for our feet again. Walking barefoot on parquet or carpet at home is enough training for the muscles in the soles of your feet.
2. Alternating showers to combat cold feet
If they get cold quickly, the body also feels cold. You can train that. Foot expert Schneider recommends contrast showers. This teaches your feet to stay warmer on cold days.
A contrast shower consists of two passages with warm and cold water, explains the portal “haut.de”. Start with your right foot, guide the water jet to the outside of your hip, then along your thigh back to your foot. Do the same thing with your left leg. Then you shower the right arm from the back of the hand to the shoulder, then the left arm.
3. Gymnastics and massages
Massages are good for your feet. If you have a hedgehog ball, you can use it to massage the soles of your feet. You can also do this while sitting on the sofa.
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We get mobility for our feet through small gymnastics units. Schneider advises: circling your feet for a few minutes several times a day and stretching your toes. We can also stand on our tiptoes when brushing our teeth.
4. Dry your feet well and care for them well
In winter our skin is often dry, including on our feet. What helps: apply cream well. This also prevents small tears in the skin. After showering, we should dry our feet thoroughly, especially between the toes. This is how we can prevent athlete’s foot.
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