How to Take Care of Your Legs and Feet

Your legs and feet have a big job to do. From the time your parents first cried with joy over your first step to the last step you ever take, your legs and feet will take you on a journey equivalent to walking around the entire Earth three times.

A day on your feet and legs

A lot of us have to stand for significant portions of the day, and if you’re standing, a lot of things get hard for your lower body. When you stand, your circulatory system has to work extra hard to get the blood from your feet and lower legs back up into your heart.

Over the course of a few hours, this can result in swelling and aching. As you spend a lot of time on your legs, the muscles of your lower legs become tired and don’t do their job as well. Cramps can start in your legs, or your back may begin to hurt because these muscles aren’t able to bear as much of the load as they should.

Preventative measures

To stop problems from developing in the first place, consider these preventative measures:

Stretch

If you get in the habit of rolling your foot over a ball or foam roller and stretching out your legs at intervals, you can help protect your lower limbs from having so many problems during a long day of standing or walking.

Elevate.

Whenever you get a chance, put your feet up. You might not be able to do this during the day at work, but when you get home be sure to take some time to get your feet up higher than your heart. This takes the pressure off the veins in your leg.

Soak

The right foot soak can make a huge difference to your feet. Epsom salts are a great way to relax at the end of a long day, and the magnesium in these salts helps relax away muscle tension. Give your foot muscles a break and they’ll work harder for you later.

Massage

A massage is an amazing way to pre-empt problems in your feet and legs. This is especially the case if you can get a chiropractic massage, which might even be covered by your insurance. A good massage helps relieve the muscles and improve blood flow.

Common foot and leg issues

Even the best preventative measures aren’t a guarantee that you’ll never experience any problems with your feet or legs. Here are some of the issues a lot of people experience:

Varicose veins

These are enlarged veins that usually show up in your lower legs and feet. They are often blue, lumpy, and twisted. Sometimes these don’t need any treatment, but if you are experiencing pain or difficulty moving, you should see your vein specialists and find out about options to get them fixed.

Nail and toe issues

Many people experience ingrown toenails, nail fungus, athlete’s foot, and corns and calluses that can make walking difficult, cause pain, or just be plain unsightly. It’s always best to have your nails and toes cared for by podiatry services sooner rather than later.

Heel pain

Heel pain is quite common. Often it’s caused by plantar fasciitis, which is inflammation of the tissues that connect the heel to the toes. This causes stabbing pain whenever you use your feet after being off them for a long time. It can often be corrected by exercise, rest, podiatry treatments, and special shoes.

Foot disfunction

Whether it’s hammer toes or bunions, posterior tibial dysfunction, flat feet, or improper walking, there are many ways feet can be dysfunctional and require exercises, treatments, surgery, or special types of shoes to correct them. Once again, it’s always better to address these issues before they cause a lot of pain and issues with movement.