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Look after your feet

LOOK AFTER YOUR FEET
.
Nobody really knows what the effects of ageing alone are on your feet because everyone over the age of sixty has been exerting terrific pressure on the feet for sixty years, some more than others.  In addition we have been wearing shoes for sixty years.  To assess the effects of ageing it would  probably be good to study the feet of someone who has never worn shoes and never had any damage but of course this is impossible.  Thus we can be confident that many of the problems of the feet are due to the way they have been used over the years with the two principal issues being
  • The weight they have had to carry, and 
  • The shape of the shoes that have been worn
 
How can you minimise the effects of ageing and live longer?

At any age it is possible to look after your feet better.  There are three moves that you can make to look after them better
  • Keep your weight down or lose weight if it has crept up over the years
  • Wear shoes that are not only comfortable but provide support and the best designed shoes that are easy to obtain are called trainers, or sneakers by younger people
  • Consult a podiatrist, the name most chiropodists use for their profession, on a regular basis, particularly if you have type II diabetes

The three steps listed above will reduce the risk of the common diseases of the foot but of course many people will have developed arthritis of the bones of the foot usually as a result of the type of shoes that have been worn.  What is essential is to reduce the risk of skin disease and ulceration particularly for people with type II diabetes who should not try to cut their toenails or interfere with the skin in any way. That is the job for a podiatrist.
 
How can you increase and maintain fitness?

Bare feet are probably the simplest approach and it is good to develop a routine in which you maintain the muscles of the arch of the foot and these are not only the muscles of the foot but also of the calf.  Rise up on your tiptoes  the same number of times as your age in years every day.

Who can help?

A profession of very great importance to older people is podiatry.  These health professionals have a major contribution to make to wellbeing and they become more important the longer you live.


HOW COULD YOU USE THIS KNOWLEDGE TO ACHIEVE YOUR OWN OBJECTIVES ?
  • Cream your feet every day with an oil based cream
  • If you have type 2 diabetes don't  try to cut you nails or shave a corn or do anything that might cause a skin ulcer
  • try different types of footwear to ensure you keep walking briskly; try trainers, they are not just for 'young people'
  • Consult a podiatrist or chiropodist for advice and treatment 

HOW COULD YOU USE THIS KNOWLEDGE IF YOU ARE SUPPORTING SOMEONE ELSE ?
  • Make sure they have regular sessions with a podiatrist 
  • Massage the feet as often as possible with an oil based or aqueous cream​
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