Wellness
Best foot forward
Christophe Champs , founder of PODO Clinic and Workshop , offers his top tips to look after your feet and legs at an exhibition :
xhibitions frequently
E require wearing smart shoes ( that perhaps look better than they are comfy ), and you ’ ll almost certainly be on your feet all day , and often that is preceded or followed by moving heavy stand equipment . All of this can have an impact on your feet and legs .
Here are a few tips to look after your feet and legs :
Include stretches and manipulations in your morning routine Your feet and legs will benefit from daily attention , such as stretching exercises and gentle manipulations . Here ’ s how to do this from the comfort of your bed :
• Manipulate toes to prevent any toe deformations ( such as bunions , hammer toes , etc .) becoming unreversible , which can happen when joints are seldom manipulated .
• Move your ankles to stretch the extrinsic muscles ( those outside your foot , which are connected to your lower leg and help control the foot ), doing the alphabet with the point of your feet , for instance , is a good way to ensure a complete range of movement .
• You can also spread your toes wide and push your heel as far down the bed as you can , as though you are trying to elongate your body and grow a few inches !
Look after the skin and nails on your feet
It is essential to remember that the skin and nails on your feet need to be nourished , moisturised , dried , kept warm and allowed to breathe .
• Use a cream that is specificality formulated for your foot skin , which is much thicker than that on your body or face .
• Talcum powder is a massive game changer ; use it in shoes when you don ’ t wear socks or between the toes if you don ’ t want to end up with athletes ’ foot .
• Keep your nails short , smoothing the corners to make sure you leave no spur ( which , once in your socks or / shoes could penetrate the surrounding skin and cause ingrown toenails and subsequent pain or infection ).
Christophe Champs
Daily shoe care Rotating your shoes is always a good idea as , after 12 hours of abuse , they might benefit from a day off . However , if you are not a shoe shopping addict and spend your week in the same pair , then make sure you nail the following tips :
• Leave a wooden shoe tree in your shoes overnight , to avoid the leather crisping and cracking and subsequently allowing water to come in .
• Polish in the evening . Polish products can make your footwear humid , while your skin and nails would prefer a dry environment for as long as possible . So , polish your shoes in the evening , then they will be dry when you put them on in the morning .
• Check the heel and overall shape of the footwear . Surprisingly , this not only protects your feet and legs but all your joints up to your neck . This is because any shoe that is out of shape will mislead your feet – your only foundation . The consequences will impact all the joints above : ankles , knees , hips , back and neck . And even if you have orthotics , they are pointless in a pair of shoes that misleads them . You will waste time and money , and they will not correct your discomfort .
Take a relaxing walk For better blood flow and to fight that common heavy leg sensation , go for a walk at the end of the day – one where you are not loaded with bags or in a rush . Because walking is the best exercise for both your physical and mental health . Walk handsfree ( with a backpack , if needed ) to allow your arms to swing and offload the bodyweight being applied to your feet and legs .
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www . exhibitionworld . co . uk Issue 3 2023 17