Foot Health for Students
It’s that time of the year where many students feel excited about the long summer school break.
In the next couple of weeks the new teaching term starts and now is the time to be thinking about our new college footwear. Perhaps consider a shoe stretcher, wearing our new shoes indoors little and often, considering a fabric conditioner or cream to soften the outer material such as the toebox and upper, even packing the shoe with newspaper and left overnight. For those with very narrow feet a pair of thick dual layered socks with an orthotic can be extremely helpful in order to avoid excessive shear. This way we put our best foot forward and then our feet are the last things on our mind ready to ace ♠️ our studies.
Taking care of foot health is especially important for university students who live in shared homes.
Here are some foot care tips specifically tailored to university students and all students alike
- Wearing Comfortable and Supportive Shoes: provides you with proper arch support and cushioning. Avoid wearing high heels or tight shoes for extended periods, especially if you have to walk a lot around campus and are up and down the large auditorium stairs.
- Protect Your Feet in Public Spaces: In shared living spaces like dormitories or communal showers, wearing non slip sliders or shower shoes to protect your feet from infections like athlete’s foot and verrucae is a prerequisite for good preventative footcare health.
- Correct Sport wear Activities: If you’re engaging in sports or physical activities, wear appropriate footwear designed for the specific activity to prevent injuries.
- Practice Good Hygiene: Wash your feet daily with mild soap and water. Make sure to thoroughly dry your feet, especially between the toes.
- Foot Stretches and Exercises: Incorporate simple foot stretches and exercises into your routine to maintain flexibility and strength in your feet and ankles.
- Swollen ankles or feet?: After a long day of walking or standing, elevate your feet to reduce swelling and improve circulation.
- Manage Foot Conditions: If you have pre-existing foot conditions such as plantar fasciitis, flat feet, or bunions, follow any prescribed treatments or exercises to manage them effectively.
Other Tips to share
Never walk around barefoot especially in public places like communal showers to avoid getting any viral infection that are spread through skin contact such as verruca.
Socks that are made from bamboo or silver lined have very good antibacterial qualities and do not retain moisture, which is useful especially for students who have to wear shoes for long periods.
It is our hope for schools to start introducing non-slip ‘vibram’ type footwear for gymnastics and bamboo socks to support growing feet and to protect each student from verruca outbreaks.
Fun fact: Did you know that a bearcat can rotate their hindleg ankles 360° to climb down trees?
Are you suffering from any nail condition? At The Chelsea Clinic, we can help. One of our podiatrist can assist and then recommend what treatments are best to get you back on track. Podiatrist South Kensington
Schedule an appointment here or you may call us at +44 (0) 207 101 4000.
We hope you have a feetastic day!
-The Chelsea Clinic and Team
