Feet are the foundation for your body, and those who take them for granted may end up paying for it later in life. Blokes are probably the worst offenders for their reluctance to seek help when they need it, and often choose a ‘she’ll be right’ attitude towards their health care.
So as Men’s Health Week (June 11-17) finished last weekend, we are reminding Aussie men about four critical ‘foot factors’ contributing to healthy feet and better wellbeing.
Footwear fails – while the tradie workforce is on its feet all day, those bound to an office also need to think about their daily shoe choice. Bunions, ingrown toenails and corns, which are often caused or aggravated by shoes that are tight around the toes, are a clear sign that it’s time to give the pointy Italian leathers the boot in favour of a better fitting shoe.
Weight woes – as you gain weight, you place extra stress on the bones, ligaments, and tendons in your feet. Excess weight can break down tissue under your heel bone and cause inflammation of the long band of tissue under the foot, a common condition known as plantar fasciitis. As your weight changes or fluctuates, ensure your shoes are giving your feet the right support.
Living with diabetes – men who drink excessive alcohol, eat unhealthy foods, and who don’t exercise regularly, are at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes – and people who live with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing foot problems (read the causes of diabetic foot problems).
Stomp out the problem early – men who ignore pain or problems with their feet simply allow it to get far worse which, when it comes to something as important as feet, can sometimes lead to the development of lifestyle-limiting conditions.
There you have it, gents. Which of these didn’t you know you were doing? Share it with a mate and help Australia stomp out unhealthy feet.
