Include Foot Care in Your Exercise Regime

Exercise is necessary. Whether your workout regime is the stringent gym kind, or the morning jog at the nearby park, it becomes a way of life for you. You are rarely comfortable on the days you miss the routine. After all, you have done it for years and intend to continue doing so. There is no match to that fresh feeling that you get after a good workout. However, your feet may not always agree with you. They may need attention, and if you don’t give it to them, they may protest in any of the following ways: swelling, painful corns, tendonitis or deep vein thrombosis.

Exercise and Your Feet

Feet usually start their protest by creating a feeling of tightness around the ankles, or below. Next, you may feel pain during or after exercising. This means there is inadequate blood circulation. However small the problem may be, understanding and arresting it in time goes a long way and causes almost nil suffering. According to podiatrist Dominic Catanese, DPM, director of the Podiatry Service at Montefiore Medical Center in New York, “"The small foot problems that probably don't make much of difference at other times can suddenly become a very big deal when you begin putting significant stress on your feet, as you do when you're starting an exercise program.”

So what needs to be done?

First and foremost, understand your pain or discomfort. When your feet ache after a long day at work, you probably shrug the pain off thinking it is due to wearing high heels. But that may not be so. There could be a small fracture that is causing the pain. It may also be the warning signs of osteoporosis, which weakens the bones.

Check the color of the toes. If you see white skin, do not shrug it off as nothing serious. This whiteness may turn blue or red and result in Raynaud’s disease.

Care for Exercising Feet

1. Wear the right footwear: Choose footwear that fits well and makes your feet feel comfortable. Do not go for those on discount, or those piles that boast low-priced trainers. Footwear with a solid construction and a toe bed that is flexible is the best choice. Choosing a "cross trainer" shoe is the best for all-rounders.

2. Wear the right socks: Socks are known to prevent friction, but they can also cause friction! This  friction will lead to irritation, and the irritation to redness and sores. It is best to wear socks that have a little cushioning on the sole. These days, socks made from fabric that keeps moisture at bay are available. These could be the best option for people who have a tendency to sweat.

3. Arch support is important: If your footwear does not have arch-support, buy an insert that will provide support from the toe to the heel. Protecting the arch is important, as it is not uncommon for the arch to cave in and collapse.