Having a day dedicated to feet might seem like a strange concept, but surprisingly, it does exist. 23 January is National Measure Your Feet Day.
This day was created as an opportunity for you to give your feet a little more attention. People rarely think about their feet, but they are a vital part of our everyday lives and require as much – if not more! – care as any other part of our bodies.
The story behind National Measure Your Feet Day originates in ancient Iceland. Ancient Icelanders spent most of their free time either bowling or ‘shelbing’. Shelbing is high-fiving with your feet! When spring, a time known for extreme rainstorms in Iceland, rolled around, the natives would run into their huts, and celebrate the rain by measuring their feet and then pairing off. Shelbing was a customary way to celebrate the rainstorms. Soon enough world leaders caught wind of this customary tradition and found a way to commemorate it.
One of the best ways to keep your feet healthy and prevent problems from occurring is to ensure you have shoes that actually fit. If you are experiencing foot pain, whether it’s cramping in your toes or heel pain, it could be because you are wearing the wrong size shoe. If shoes are too tight or even too loose it can create bothersome problems for your feet.
If you do not get your feet measured correctly and wear uncomfortable, badly fitting shoes, the following conditions may occur:
– Forcing the big toes into a bent position by wearing high heels for long periods of time might shorten the toe’s muscles, forming a hammer toe.
– Bunions are formed when the base of the toes is pushed out of its normal position, causing a bulge on the side of the foot that can become inflamed.
– The skin naturally protects itself from constant repeated pressure by building hard layers of skin. When this occurs on the toes or in between the toes, the skin cells form bumps known as corns.
– Ingrown toenails occur when the corner or side of a nail grows into the skin. This condition can cause redness, pain, and swelling and can even become infected.
When was the last time you took a proper measurement of your feet? To celebrate today, get the tape out of the bottom of your drawer and recheck their size. Make sure you take note of the exact measurements in order to get yourself properly fitting shoes.
If your feet have been experiencing some of the symptoms mentioned above, contact the Foot and Ankle Specialists at Achilles Podiatry for further evaluation and treatment.
Source: roodepoort
