5 Ways to Treat Your Feet After Holiday Shopping
(NewsUSA) - Holiday shopping is not easy on the feet. Not only are you trekking from store to store, but if you have a long list of presents to buy, that hour-long errand you intended easily turns into an all-day affair. At the end of the day, you bring home a few unwanted gifts of your own: foot pain and blisters.
The American Podiatric Medical Association estimates that the average person takes about 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day, especially when on the hunt for that perfect gift. To help shoppers get back on their feet, the APMA offers five holiday foot fixes:
1. Massage your feet. This will help release tension, increase circulation and rejuvenate the skin.
2. Soothe your soles. Soak your feet for at least five minutes in a container filled with warm water. Pat dry and apply lotion to hydrate your feet.
3. Elevate legs. Lift your legs above your heart while lying down to help reduce swelling.
4. Rotate ankles. Cup the foot under the back portion of the heel to brace the foot and leg; turn slowly at the ankle five times. This loosens the ankle joint and relaxes your feet.
5. Point your toes. While standing, do toe raises, toe points and toe curls for five seconds; repeat 10 times. This alleviates toe cramps and strengthens calf muscles.
Check out APMA's Web site, www.apma.org, for a list of approved products including foot creams, scrubs and powders that are beneficial to maintaining good foot health.
