marathon martyrs-it's time to put your feet first

As marathon season winds down we wanted to call attention to the true martyrs of your running: your feet. Do you know what they are saying? OUCH! We thought you would enjoy some tricks and treats for the feet.

Foot Factoids

  • Three out of every 4 Americans experience serious foot problems in their lifetime.
  • The foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments and 19 muscles.
  • One quarter of all the bones in the human body are down in your feet.
  • Women have about 4 times as many foot problems as men. High heels are partly to blame.
  • Your feet mirror your general health. Conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, nerve and circulatory disorders can show their initial symptoms in the feet-so foot ailments can be your first sign of more serious medical problems.
  • There are 250,000 sweat glands in a pair of feet. Sweat glands in the feet
    excrete as much as a half-pint of moisture a day.
  • The two feet may be different sizes. Buy shoes for the larger one.

Source: www.foot.com

7 Tips to Pamper Your Piggies and Soothe Your Soles

Dr. Scholl's know a little about feet and a lot about pampering them. The company's experts gave us some tips on foot recovery to share.

  1. Make your home into a "foot spa"
  • Soak feet in a portable footbath or sit on the edge of your bathtub.
  • Use warm water, not hot. Hot water can make your feet swell!
  • Add bath salts to soften rough, dry skin; try to use products that contain Dead Sea or Epsom salts with minerals to benefit your skin.
  1. Use Moisturizers
  • Moisturizers help deliver relief to rough, dry skin.
  • Use cinnamon and freesia fragrances for revitalization.
  1. Massage Very Gently
  • Using a circular motion, gently massage feet and ankles with a moisturizing foot cream.
  • DON'T use twisting motions on your foot.
  1. Start an Evening Ritual
  • Check your feet every night for potential foot problems.
  • Use a moisturizing lotion like Dr. Scholl's Daily Replenishing Cream or AHAVA Advanced Foot Cream.
  1. Cushion and Comfort Your Feet
  • Use contoured inserts or insoles, like Dr. Scholl's or SuperFeet, to provide additional cushioning to take the pressure off your feet and help maintain healthy circulation.
  1. Have an Annual Checkup
  • Visit a healthcare professional at least once a year, or more often if you have foot problems.
  1. Practice the R.I.C.E Recipe
  • Immediately treat impact or trauma injuries with the RICE formula:
    • Rest
    • Ice
    • Compression
    • Elevation

Training Tip

Proper foot hygiene can prevent injuries. Keeping feet powdered and dry is important, especially to runners who suffer from blisters. Blisters can be prevented by application of petroleum jelly or creams to the parts of the feet where they frequently occur.

Source: American Podiatric Medical Association

"It is better to die on one's feet than to live on one's knees."
-Albert Camus, Nobel Prize Winner, 20th century French existentialist novelist

If you would like to receive a free guide to total foot care, please contact SuperFeet at 1-888-355-FEET.