Walking on eggshells

Sadly, one in three individuals aged 65 years and above has problems with their feet. The high number of people with feet problems is attributed to wearing ill-fitting shoes, failure to exercise and underlying health conditions such as diabetes or cardiovascular diseases.

Most people overlook the importance of adding foot care in their self-care regime. Simple habits such as stretches go a long way to ensure healthy feet.

Discover two major ways that stretches can improve the health of your feet.  

Boost Circulation

Poor circulation is the primary cause of cold, discoloured and numb feet. Sometimes, poor blood circulation results from underlying health problems like diabetes and anaemia. But in most cases, it's a sign that you are not moving your feet enough.

Perhaps you spend the better part of your day sitting in the office. And by the time you're done, you just want to get home and rest.

Luckily, feet stretches can help you get blood flowing in your feet. The stretches don't even have to be intense. Set a reminder to move around the office during your breaks to improve your vascular function.

Try out these simple sit-down stretches as follows:

Calf stretches

• Sit with both feet touching the floor
• Stretch one foot in front
• Lift the toes of the stretched foot towards you and bend your ankle
• Remain in that position for at least three seconds
• Lower your foot back on the floor and repeat this ten times
• Alternate one foot after the other as many times as you wish

Foam roller stretch

• Sit on the ground with your legs stretched forward
• Place a foam roller under the ankles and roll it under the calves

You may also use your hands to massage the foam roller over your ankle and thighs

Incorporating a stretching regime makes arteries less stiff. The stretches help them dilate and enhance better circulation to all body parts, including your feet.

Keeps Your Muscles Healthy

Stretches keep your muscles flexible, strong and healthy. If you don't stretch, your muscles become shorter and tighter, which affects your flexibility as you age.

Furthermore, stretching improves your posture by keeping the muscles loose and flexible. Good posture minimizes the chances of falls even in old age, which helps keep the pain and aches away.

Simple stretch exercises like Visarana yoga, toe curls and calf stretches will not only improve your flexibility but will also protect you from chronic feet inflammation.

Cold, numb and aching feet adversely affect your overall health and quality of life. Stretches can give you the quickest relief. Seek guidance from a podiatrist if you have concerns about underlying health conditions being the cause of your feet problems.