Whether it's work or play, many of us are on our feet for more than 8 hours a day. And because we spend so much time walking, running and/or even standing, caring for our feet is often linked to our overall well-being. I am no different.
My Personal Experience
When my feet hurt, I'm miserable. I lack tolerance. My patience is virtually non-existent. Believe it or not, I have actually been accused of being 'abrasive' after a long day of walking around the warehouse on sore feet...feet that at times kick the corner of a pallet, or stumble over a small box I didn't see while carrying large cases of toilet paper! I am convinced that my big toe's sole purpose is to find sharp corners and table legs.
For years I made every effort to abide by the one rule I learned as a young boy about toenails....trim them straight across versus curved like fingernails.
It always seemed to work for me. It seemed to work for my daughter as well. However, there were rare occasions when I would experience a little pain when wearing shoes during warm days at work. If my toenails were neatly trimmed, I simply dismissed it as tenderness caused from wearing shoes for extended periods. Ya know, wearing socks and shoes too long causing the skin to become extremely soft and easily pierced. But then I done a little research.
Number One Tip
While square-shaped toenails are the rage nowadays, make sure you, or your manicurist, leave a slight roundness at the outer edges of your nails. Painful ingrown toenails "are more likely to occur when the corners of your nails are wide and square," according to Rite Aid Pharmacy's Rite Health Journal.
After reading this tidbit, I decided to alter my habit of trimming my nails straight across. Now I'm feeling a little better -- except when my big toe finds a table leg or corner of a pallet.
For more foot care tips read, "How Can I Prevent Toenail Fungus?" on Yahoo!Voices.
Sources:
Personal experiences
Rite Health Journal, Summer 2011, Page 19
