A miracle of engineering with 26 bones and 33 joints, our feet take our weight, allow us to stand and stretch and enable us to run and dance.

Our feet are a marvel and yet most of us in our Third Age take them completely for granted until they start to cause us problems.

When man first learned to stand upright and later went on to roam the earth, he protected his feet by wrapping them in animal skins. These simple coverings allowed the foot to move, bend and stretch as required.

We have moved on considerably since then. Shoes are no longer simply a means of protecting our feet, they have become a less than practical fashion statement, worn more to impress than to protect.

Most women will at some time in their lives have worn shoes with heels so high that the entire body is placed at an unnatural angle. Or shoes so narrow that the foot is cramped, with bones and muscles too restricted to do the job of keeping the body balanced. Once the body is out of line, knees and hips can’t do their job properly, and backache ensues just as sure as night follows day.

Most of us are born with healthy feet. It’s only when we begin to develop problems that we come to appreciate how important our feet are to our general health and wellbeing. If our feet hurt so much that we stop walking, we lose strength, we gain weight, we’re more prone to blood clots and much more besides.

Almost invariably, the primary cause of painful and problem feet is wearing the wrong shoes. Certainly that is the case with women and high heels, one of the worst offenders for causing foot problems. In fact no less eighty per cent of all foot problems are experienced by women. Foot problems in men are also frequently caused by wearing the wrong shoes, particularly at weekends when they tend to exercise in trainers which are frequently too small or which give too little support to the feet.

Painful feet can be avoided if you look after them. Keeping a careful weather eye on your feet can also offer up early warning signs of more serious health problems such as poor circulation, diabetes or arthritis. You should for example consult your doctor if you begin to suffer with unusually cold feet, cramps or numbness, changes in the skin colour or a sore on the foot which simply won’t heal or which becomes infected. Don’t wait until your feet hurt before you take action.

Take good care of your feet:
Check them daily for cuts, blisters, infected toenails or any unexplained swelling.
Wash your feet every day, but do not soak them for longer than ten minutes at a time.
Dry them thoroughly, especially between the toes.
Use unscented cream on the tops and soles of your feet, but not between the toes.
Trim your toe nails straight across, but never trim them shorter than the end of your toe.

When you’re buying shoes, remember:
Choose shoes which give your longest toe room to move since your feet may not both be the same size.
Buy shoes late in the day when your feet tend to swell a little.
Ensure that there are no inside seams in the shoe which could chafe.
Buy shoes with closed backs for maximum support.

There was a time when buying shoes for difficult feet meant sacrificing looks for the sake of comfort. Today however, no matter what the foot problem – extra wide, extra narrow, swollen big toe joints – there are shoe manufacturers capable of solving the problem.

Good shoes are worth their weight in gold, particularly if they pamper your feet. Chosen with care, they look great and they stay looking great providing you place quality above price. And remember.

And a few final things to remember:
Painful feet make you frown as you walk and put years on your face.
Wear comfortable shoes.
Avoid socks with elastic tops (they can reduce circulation to the feet).
Walk every day and keep your feet in good condition.

Foot Exercises:
While sitting, rotate your feet in circles – first in one direction, then the other.
While sitting, roll an orange or a tennis ball back and forth with each foot in turn.
Stand on your toes and roll back on your heels.

Include some of these exercises daily and your feet will thank you for it!

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