Day 141 of 365 - TLC for Your Tootsies
Our feet are our faithful minions, serving us day in and day out, doing their best to support us and give us mobility. But, a lot of the time we take them for granted. Even though it is still winter here, maybe it's time to give your feet some attention. Maybe you have been jamming them into bulky boots, thick socks, and big slippers all winter, trying to keep them safe and warm.
We have had some very cold, dry spells here this winter which is a recipe for dry skin. This includes our feet, though a lot of us never think to moisturize them. If you tend towards roughness or callouses, you may have noticed them more as the skin dries out.
Some simple practices can help our feet feel and look better. Consider getting yourself a foot file to keep in your shower or bath. I have one with a handle, which is comfortable to use. A few times a week, when your feet are wet, gently file over the rough areas you find. Doing this will make you more aware of the wear and tear on your feet, as well as how you are bearing your weight when you walk. The rougher areas are where you put most of your weight.
If you notice there is much more on one side of the foot than the other, maybe you want to check the support of your footwear. The alignment of your feet affects the alignment of your whole body. If you are tending to roll your foot more inward or outward when you walk, it can affect your knees, hips and back.
Should your feet have been neglected for awhile, having a lot of roughness, you may want to soak them before filing. You don't need a special foot bath device for that, though they are a nice luxury. You can just use your tub or a large plastic basin. Dilute some Epsom salts in comfortably warm water and add a few drops of favorite essential oil. Relax until the water cools.
After filing, give yourself a little foot massage while rubbing in some lotion or cream. Some people prefer to do this before bed, both for relaxation and also to give the lotion lots of time to absorb. You may even want to put light socks on over your moisturized feet those nights to keep the lotion on your feet instead of your sheets. I moisturize my feet in the morning more often but have to wait until it absorbs well before putting on my socks.
By massaging your feet, or having someone else do it, you will learn more about tender areas or limitations in joint movement. This is good information too. Another thing you can learn from your tender points is, where other areas of your body may need attention. Aside from having a lot of nerve endings, which make it incredibly painful when you stub your toe, there are many points on your feet related to the organs and systems of the body.
For example, if you press with a fingertip on the spot just below the web between your big and first toe, and it is very tender, that can tell you to pay attention to your liver function. This is near the end point of the liver meridian, from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective. You can find many images of foot charts online related to both acupressure points and foot reflexology areas.
Regardless, massaging the tender areas can help the energy flow better, as well as improving the circulation to your feet. If you want to treat yourself, you could find a reflexologist to give you a foot treatment. They will be able to help you identify areas for attention. Some massage therapists are also trained in specific techniques for the feet.
Unfortunately, foot issues in seniors are not uncommon, frequently due to circulation issues or side effects of medical conditions or treatments. If you already have specific concerns with your feet related to that, you may wish to see a foot care specialist to address your particular needs.
For those of us who are mainly dealing with neglect of routine foot care, establishing some new routines as described above, could make us feel much better, all over.
We have had some very cold, dry spells here this winter which is a recipe for dry skin. This includes our feet, though a lot of us never think to moisturize them. If you tend towards roughness or callouses, you may have noticed them more as the skin dries out.
Some simple practices can help our feet feel and look better. Consider getting yourself a foot file to keep in your shower or bath. I have one with a handle, which is comfortable to use. A few times a week, when your feet are wet, gently file over the rough areas you find. Doing this will make you more aware of the wear and tear on your feet, as well as how you are bearing your weight when you walk. The rougher areas are where you put most of your weight.
If you notice there is much more on one side of the foot than the other, maybe you want to check the support of your footwear. The alignment of your feet affects the alignment of your whole body. If you are tending to roll your foot more inward or outward when you walk, it can affect your knees, hips and back.
Should your feet have been neglected for awhile, having a lot of roughness, you may want to soak them before filing. You don't need a special foot bath device for that, though they are a nice luxury. You can just use your tub or a large plastic basin. Dilute some Epsom salts in comfortably warm water and add a few drops of favorite essential oil. Relax until the water cools.
After filing, give yourself a little foot massage while rubbing in some lotion or cream. Some people prefer to do this before bed, both for relaxation and also to give the lotion lots of time to absorb. You may even want to put light socks on over your moisturized feet those nights to keep the lotion on your feet instead of your sheets. I moisturize my feet in the morning more often but have to wait until it absorbs well before putting on my socks.
By massaging your feet, or having someone else do it, you will learn more about tender areas or limitations in joint movement. This is good information too. Another thing you can learn from your tender points is, where other areas of your body may need attention. Aside from having a lot of nerve endings, which make it incredibly painful when you stub your toe, there are many points on your feet related to the organs and systems of the body.
For example, if you press with a fingertip on the spot just below the web between your big and first toe, and it is very tender, that can tell you to pay attention to your liver function. This is near the end point of the liver meridian, from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective. You can find many images of foot charts online related to both acupressure points and foot reflexology areas.
Regardless, massaging the tender areas can help the energy flow better, as well as improving the circulation to your feet. If you want to treat yourself, you could find a reflexologist to give you a foot treatment. They will be able to help you identify areas for attention. Some massage therapists are also trained in specific techniques for the feet.
Unfortunately, foot issues in seniors are not uncommon, frequently due to circulation issues or side effects of medical conditions or treatments. If you already have specific concerns with your feet related to that, you may wish to see a foot care specialist to address your particular needs.
For those of us who are mainly dealing with neglect of routine foot care, establishing some new routines as described above, could make us feel much better, all over.
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