HAPPY FEET

Show your tootsies some TLC and reap the health benefits

- Amy Hadley

A side from putting on shoes and treating ourselves to pedicures, many of us don’t pay all that much attention to our feet. But according to leading podiatrist Charlotte Bodell, we should be taking good care of them since they’re a large part of what keep us moving!

WINDOW TO HEALTH

“Foot health underpins your wellbeing and general health,” Charlotte explains. “Feet can be the first warning sign for many other health issues.”

Research commissioned by the Australian Podiatry Association found that one in four patients had an underlining health issue identified by their podiatrist, including circulatory issues (38 per cent), diabetes (27 per cent) or heart problems (22 per cent).

NOTICE THE SIGNS

“The top sign of good foot health is good circulation,” Charlotte notes. “Podiatrists look for strong pulses in the feet and ensure there is adequate feeling in them, whether it is a light touch or a sharp sensation. We do this to ensure there is no nerve damage or signs of peripheral neuropathy.”