Check how healthy your feet are

Although they are important for the whole body, we often neglect them. We pay attention to them only after they become painful and this becomes a problem in our everyday life.
Take a few moments and check the status of your feet with a couple of simple tests.

Take off your shoes and socks.

Skin

Do you have blisters, tylomas and localized red spots?

Place your foot beside your shoe and check if the shape of the shoe reflects the shape of your foot. Are there any hard spots that might cause problems?

Check inside your shoe by hand – this is something you should do when buying new shoes. Are there any bulges that might cause discomfort or even blisters and tylomas?

Circulation

Check the colour of your toes.

Are they red, purple or pink?

Press the nail on your big toe until it turns white. The toe of a person having normal circulation will get its normal colour back in 2-5 seconds. If it takes longer, you may have circulation issues.

Flexibility

Are your toes sufficiently flexible? Put an object the size of a marble or plastic cap on the floor and a small towel. Try to lift them. If you manage to lift the marble, your toe flexibility is excellent. If you manage to lift the towel, your toe flexibility is all right.

Check also the range of motion in the ankle. Place your foot on a stairstep so that the front third of your foot is on the stairstep and the rest in the air. Try to lower the heel below the stairstep level. If you manage to do that without feeling the tension in the lower leg, the range of motion in the ankle is satisfactory. If you feel the tension in the lower leg during this test, exercise will be needed to improve th range of motion in the ankle.

Sensation test

Take an eraser and slide it gently over the sole of your foot, instep and foot sides. The sensation should be equal in all parts of your foot.

Pain

A normal, healthy foot does not hurt under normal circumstances.

Balance

Our feet are very important for body balance and the related test is probably the most fun of all.

Hold out your arms to the side, close your eyes and stand on one leg. If you are younger than 30, you should be able to maintain balance for at least 15 seconds. People over 30 have to maintain balance for 12 seconds, those between 40-50 for 10 seconds and those over 50 the expected time is 7 seconds.

Of course, maintaining balance can be improved with exercise.