The warmer months mean more time spent outdoors, but more time spent outdoors will mean more time on your feet. Whether it’s time spent walking, hiking or running, small problems with your feet can compound if left unaddressed, and knowing what to look out for before issues develop is what keeps you moving through the season.
The Importance of Foot Health
Foot health rarely gets the attention it deserves, and recent research suggests the gap between awareness and action is wider than it should be.
This is according to new research commissioned by Gentle Grip as part of their Guide to Spring and Summer Foot Health, in which the brand found that only around a quarter of Brits are aware that foot health can affect their overall wellbeing. What’s more, around 21% admit to delaying or ignoring issues when they arise.
Perhaps the most troubling aspect from this study though is that among those who do recognise the link, almost one in six still admitted they rarely take action when issues arise.
Common Foot Problems
In this same guide, the Royal College of Podiatry’s Chief Clinical Advisor, Dr Helen Branthwaite, has explained some of the foot issues most frequently encountered by walkers and runners. These include:
- Blisters develop when friction causes fluid to build up under the skin and, as the NHS notes, deteriorate quickly if ignored. Stopping at the first sign of rubbing to adjust socks or footwear is the most effective prevention.
- Blackened toenails occur when the nail repeatedly contacts the front of the shoe. Adjusting the lacing technique to create more toe box space can help reduce the problem.
- Calluses can be managed at home with a pumice stone and moisturiser, though persistent build-ups warrant a visit to a podiatrist.
- Heel and joint pain, often a sign of plantar fasciitis, is frequently triggered by a sudden increase in activity. Dr Branthwaite recommends reducing or stopping activity at the onset of regular pain before the condition worsens.
- Athlete’s foot, a fungal infection the NHS advises treating promptly with antifungal medication, is encouraged by the warmth and moisture that builds up inside footwear over longer outings.
If left unaddressed, any of these conditions can turn a minor irritation into something that stops you going walking, hiking or running altogether.
Getting Footwear Right
The Royal College of Podiatry is also clear that poorly fitting footwear is the single biggest preventable cause of foot problems during outdoor activity. Feet change shape over time, and assuming a familiar size will continue to fit is said to be one of the most common barriers to good foot health.
Dr Branthwaite details these checks for people to make to ensure they’re getting the right footwear for their feet:
- The shoes fit the full length of the foot
- They are wide enough across the ball
- They accommodate depth at the toes allowing them to sit without compression when standing
- The have an adjustable fastening with solid heel support
- They carry a sole suited to the terrain
The Long Game
Our feet carry the full load of every mile covered outdoors, and the problems that sideline people most often are the ones that are easiest to prevent. Good footwear, the right socks, and a willingness to act early when something feels wrong are habits that cost very little and protect a great deal.
