Your feet – storytellers just like your hands

When asked, what do you look at when you observe people, many would say their feet or the shoes they wear.  Our feet are, together with our legs, the pillars on which the rest of the body sits.  They work non-stop and often than not, get a bit neglected when it comes to exercising and stretching the muscles in the feet.

Feet are vital parts of the body – vital for our mobility, quality of life and even survival!  Did you know, that there are 26 bones, 33 joints, 19 muscles and 107 ligaments, in each foot??  That is simply amazing!!  No wonder the feet have been referred to as a perfect marriage of form and function.

The feet’s skin, like that of the hands, might look quite ordinary.  However, in reality it is a complex marvel of fat pads, pores and blood vessels, all working together to ensure that every step taken, is balanced and evenly pressured.  The tightly-stretched sole of the foot contains the thickest skin of the human body.  It is criss-crossed by a set of creases that react to pressure from walking, running and standing.  The sole includes as many as 200 000 (!) extremely sensitive nerve endings, which explains why it can hurt if you step on a pebble, why something can make it itch, and why our feet are often quite ticklish! It is also the reason why a foot massage, or a shiatsu-, acupressure- or reflexology-session, can make you feel relaxed and/or sleepy afterwards.

Feet can vary in size, shape and form.  Research has indicated that the human foot has changed over thousands of years.  Many years ago, Edward Rutherford wrote books about these changes by researching families throughout the ages.  He concluded that people with long prehensile toes, were water people, who needed length for gripping branches and rocks.  Short, stubby toed people (on the other hand), were from agrarian cultures, who lived and worked on the land.

Toenails, like finger nails, are nature’s great protectors.  It consists of multiple layers of protein-rich tissue, a growth-promoting matrix, as well as several delicate membranes designed to protect the toes (and body) against bacterial invasion, as well as prevent infection.  Toenails also protect the ends of our toes from injuries via the delicate sensation exerted on our toes when we walk, run or stand.  They grow quite slowly – approximately 1mm per month.

I don’t know about you, but as I got older, my shoe-size changed.  There was also a time when I didn’t think twice about wearing high heeled-shoes.  Today?  Yes, I still wear them, but the heal is not higher than 10 cm.  Speaking about high heels.  Did you know that, the more you wear high heels, the bigger chance of your Achilles tendon shortening?  This will cause your body weight to be pushed forward; causing your spine to become out of alignment as you push your gluteus out and your weight onto the toes, in order to stay upright and walk in the shoes?

Wearing high heels is not a bad thing; however, it is important, ladies, that you don’t wear them all day, every day.  If you wear high heels for work or when you are going out, take them off once you are home and either walk bare feet, or wear flats.

Certain times of the year our feet can become more prone to dryness and/or corns or calluses.  Depending on where you live, dry, hot air can cause the feet to dry out because we are either walking bare feet, or wearing sandals.  The heels, especially, can dry out quite quickly and can even become hard.  It is not just the dry air and/or sun that can cause dryness, but also the type of shoes we wear.

Therefore, it is always a good idea to either go for a pedicure, or have your own pedicure at home.  If a shoe is too tight it will cause the feet to not only become achy and tired, but with regular wear it’ll cause bunions, calluses, and so on.  If you are wearing high heels all day, every day, put a gel- or other material cushion inside your shoes.  Some brands sell these separate; one for under the toes and the other for under the heels; or you can use an inner sole that’ll act as a shock-absorber, so to speak.

The nails, just like your skin, needs oxygen.  Taking a break in-between nail polish will help to maintain the nails health and colour.  Wearing nail polish for too long, or never going without it, can cause discoloration of the nails over time.

There are many products on the market today that promises to get rid of dry heels, calluses, and so forth.  I cannot tell you which product is best or not, but what I can mention is to put cotton socks on, after you have put your foot cream on, to help absorb the cream.  If you suffer from ingrown toenails, maybe have part of the nail permanently removed.  If corns and/or calluses are troubling you, go see a medical professional.  Do not play around if your toe / toenail is red and/or swollen.  It can be the start of either an ingrown toenail, but more often than not, it is the beginning of an infection.  Tea tree oil is a good, natural product to use.  However, I would recommend to see a medical professional if the symptoms persist or get worse, as you might need anti-bacterial, anti-fungal or antiseptic ointment.

All in all – take the time and make the time, to take better care of your feet.  Stretch them just as you would the rest of your body; make sure you wash them and dry them properly to keep infections at bay; and if they are tired, then lift your feet up (preferably higher than your hips). Give your feet the attention and rest they deserve; after all, you need them as much as you need that coffee-break!