When you’re active and enjoy walking or running frequently, your feet take a lot of strain. Keeping your feet in good shape is paramount so you can continue to enjoy being active for as long as possible. Walking and running are popular methods of exercise due to the minimal equipment required, the low cost involved, and the ease with which you can find places to go. 

However, when you do these activities on a frequent basis they put a lot of stress on your feet. These tips will help keep your feet safe from injuries while also making sure they stay healthy and strong over time.

Keep Your Toenails Trimmed and Filed

Toenails that are too long are more likely to become ingrown. This can be painful and lead to infection. Toenails that are too long can also curl and lead to corns and blisters if they rub against your shoes. Keeping your toenails short can help prevent these issues and keep your feet safe.

Cut your toenails straight across and use a nail file to help prevent ingrown toenails. If your toenails are overly thick, you can use a nail file to help thin them down. As with your toenails, be sure to file them straight across to prevent any ingrown toenails. If you have weak toenails or they tend to crack, you may also want to use a nail strengthener.

Stretch Before and After Each Running Session

Stretching before and after each running session can help prevent injuries. It can also help relieve the pain and stiffness you might feel in your lower back, hips, and legs. As with all forms of exercise, stretching before your run can help to loosen you up and prepare your body for what it’s about to do. 

Stretching after your run can help to relieve any post-exercise pain and stiffness you might be feeling, while also helping to keep you limber as you go about your day. It’s also a great way to cool down and relax your body after exercising.

Use the Right Shoes for Your Activities

The right shoes are the key to happy feet. When you’re walking or running, the soles of your feet are under tremendous pressure. They are what keep you upright, so they take a lot of force. When you’re going to be walking or running you want to make sure that your shoes offer good support for your feet. This will help to avoid injuries and keep your feet in good shape for longer. When you’re shoe shopping, look for walking or running shoes that have good arch support. This will prevent your arches from sagging.

It can also help to prevent pain in the balls of your feet. The best shoes for your feet will also be the right size. This will help to keep your feet from sliding around in your shoes and getting blisters. You can also buy custom orthotics for extra support when running as well.

Walk or Run on Soft Surfaces 

While you can walk or run on many different surfaces, there are some that are better than others. Hard surfaces like concrete can put a lot of strain on your feet. This can lead to pain and injury. If you can, try to walk or run on surfaces that are softer. This can help keep your feet in good shape. 

While you might not always have a choice about what surface you walk or run on, try to go for softer surfaces as often as you can. If possible, walk or run in a grassy area. The grass is softer than many other surfaces and can help to protect your feet and joints from strain. 

If you don’t have easy access to grassy areas, try to walk or run on paths made of softer materials. Gravel can be very hard, and concrete can be extremely hard. 

Don’t Go Too Long Without Giving Your Feet a Break

Walking and running are great forms of exercise, but you don’t want to overdo it. If you go for long, continuous walks or runs, you may put too much strain on your feet. This can lead to pain, injury, and discomfort.

Turning your walks and runs into shorter intervals can help to reduce the amount of strain you put on your feet. It can also help to keep you from feeling too tired after exercising. Try to break up your walks and runs into smaller, shorter intervals. This can help to reduce the amount of strain you put on your feet while exercising. It can also help to keep you from feeling too tired afterward.

See a Foot Specialist Regularly if You Have Problems

If you’re having problems with your feet, it’s a good idea to see a foot specialist regularly. This is especially true if you’ve tried different techniques to help relieve the pain and discomfort you’re feeling, but nothing seems to work. 

Your doctor or foot specialist can help to find the source of your pain and discomfort. They can also help to come up with ways to treat and prevent the pain and discomfort you feel in your feet. If you’re experiencing a lot of pain, don’t try to deal with it on your own. See a foot specialist to help determine what is causing your pain and what you can do about it. The sooner you see a foot specialist, the sooner you can start to feel better.

Conclusion

Walking and running are great forms of exercise, but they can put a lot of stress on your feet. To keep your feet in good shape, you need to take care of them properly. Keeping your toenails clipped and filed, stretching before and after your walks and runs, wearing the right shoes for your activities, and going for walks or runs on softer surfaces as often as you can will help prevent injuries and keep your feet in good shape.