HOUGHTON -- From when you first learn how to walk all the way into adulthood, your feet hold the weight of your entire body which means they are put under a lot of stress.
Experts say feet are the foundation of the body, and taking good care of them is one of the many factors that can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.
“A lot of different things can show up and just routine care of calluses and other problems, such as joint pain, if they’re left to fester can cause a lot of inflammation and pain, so managing them and getting them under control in a speedy manner will actually prevent worse problems from showing up,” said Dr. Jonathan Brueggeman, podiatrist for Portage Health.
With 26 bones in each foot, wearing the proper shoes and choosing the right insole is also important.
“As far as shoes go, running shoes are always a better choice. They’re built in with extra support versus a standard walking shoe. It doesn’t have that extra support," Dr. Brueggeman said.
Even something as simple as a trip to the nail shop can be good for your feet. A pedicure not only makes your toenails look good, but dead skin and maybe even calluses can be removed.
Some shops, like Maggie’s Massage Spa Resort, offer up a foot massage which can help relieve some of the daily stress that is placed on your feet.
“Typically a good massage will help circulate the blood stream, the lymphatic fluid as well as the oxygen. The feet are a place where a lot of things accumulate and stagnate, so a good foot massage can help anyone, any age,” said certified massage therapist Maggie Wahmhoff.
If you start having aches and pains in your feet, experts recommend a trip to the podiatrist in order to correctly diagnose the problem.
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