Your feet are an important part of your overall health. If your ankles, soles, or the muscles in the foot are damaged, this can cause long-lasting difficulties and decrease your quality of life. One way to ensure your feet remain healthy is to avoid wearing heels all the time, wear fitting shoes, and do regular exercise. But there are plenty of other misleading tips out there when it comes to our feet. As such, what are some myths we should avoid?
1. Barefoot = Better
This isn’t always true. It’s okay to walk barefoot on flexible surfaces like the outdoors. However, walking barefoot on concrete or wooden floors for extended periods can stress the muscles in your feet. This can cause pain in your ankle and lower leg. It can also cause joint overload, ligament strains, and muscle tears. Walking around barefoot also increases the risks of cuts, bruises, and infections.
2. It’s not broken if you can put weight on it
This is perpetuated a lot by fiction. However, just because you can walk on your foot doesn’t mean it’s not broken. Fractures can range from thin like a hairline to compound fractures. When you’ve injured your foot, keep any weight off it. You can manage the pain with some over-the-counter painkillers but see a doctor as soon as possible. Only with a proper scan or x-ray can a doctor determine the extent of your injury.
3. Foot pain is normal
Foot pain is a sign of an underlying condition, injury, or unsuitable footwear. It can be anything from a strain or a tear. If you wear heels a lot, you may think that the pain is usual. It’s not. You may need to get fitted for better shoes and give the high heels a break.
Do You Wear High Heels All The Time? Here Is How They Affect Your Health
You also need to see a doctor to get an accurate diagnosis for foot pain which can be a sign of other conditions, such as arthritis, joint fatigue, ligament or tendon strain. Having a sedentary lifestyle can also increase foot pain. It doesn’t only occur for people who have been standing on their feet for most of the day.
Foot Therapy: 5 Ways To Soothe Your Tired Feet After A Long Day
4. There’s no treatment for broken toes
Some people may tell you that there’s nothing a doctor can do for a broken toe. This is inaccurate. To treat fractured toes, doctors can insert pins or screws to realign it with the rest of the toes and ensure it heals within its usual shape. This ensures that your broken toe heals while facing the right direction. Healing the toe at the correct angle reduces the risk of arthritis and balance problems.
5. You can clear corns by gouging them out
Foot corns don’t have roots. A foot corn forms from the continuous rubbing of your sole against the shoe. This depends on the material of the shoe, how much you walk around, and how much pressure is on your foot. If you are overweight or pregnant, you’re more likely to develop corns. The only way to get rid of foot corn is to fix your shoes and get a medical pedicure or surgery.
6. Soaking your feet is great
This isn’t universal. A foot soak is great if you want to get a pedicure or want to remove callouses. However, if you do it too often, you’re not helping your cracked feet. You’re making them dry out more. You also need to ensure you use a good moisturiser after. If you have diabetes, you’re more likely to get dried-out feet from a soak.
Easy Home Remedies To Treat Cracked Heels
7. Bunions are caused by bad shoes
The bunion is a bony bump at the base of your toe. The bones in the big toe move out of place and pull the base of the toe away from the central part of the foot while the tip is pulled inward. Bunions are a hereditary condition that can be worsened by poor footwear. Most people with bunions develop them because they’re flatfooted.
Ordinarily, your foot develops an arch between the balls of your feet and your heel. This happens at around 1-2 years old. If you remain flatfooted, the odds of developing bunions increase. The best way to reduce the pain from bunions is to increase foot support. Bunions can’t be corrected by footwear. Most bunion correctors are scams. The only to fully remove a bunion is through surgery.
Check out:
What You Need To Know To Keep Your Children’s Feet Healthy And How To Choose The Right Shoes
7 Ways To Keep Your Feet Warm During The Cold Season
Beauty: 7 Benefits Of Getting A Pedicure
Health: Home Remedies For Athlete’s Foot
Foot Therapy: 5 Ways To Soothe Your Tired Feet After A Long Day
