Why You Should Protect Your Toes When Walking

Problem
If you walk uphill, you return downhill. Even walking on the flat, over bumps, you frequently turn your toes downwards. After a whiel of doing this, whether doing a hike or marathn or just a walk around the neighbourhood and up and down hill in a park, you might feel your roes start to hurt. Later you see blue bruises under the nail.

Answers
If you wear shoes with toe caps, that protects yhour toes from outside objects, everything from hitting a rock or a stone, step, a glass door, a wooden or metal base to a bed or a leg on a bed or chair or desk in a hotel room.
One of the causes is that your foot is not held over the ankle or at the heel and slides forward. The toe cap protects you from outside but does not stop your foot sliding forwards and hitting the front of the shoes.

Solutions
1 Wear socks - even in hot weather. Get dressed well in advance so you have time to find socks which are long enough and light enough around or heavy enough and co-ordinating colours with the shoes and skirt or trousers (US pants), and your belt and bag and hat and entire ensemble.

2 Put something soft in the toe of the shoe if you buy shoes a size too large to allow for swelling feet in the heat and on planes and heavy socks worn in winter or cold weather.

3 Carry a second pair of shoes (in your bag or rucksack or car boot) which rub in a different place or expose your toes in restaurants and when you don't need so much protection.

4 Avoid toilets down several flights of stairs in restaurants and buildings. Go to the toilet when you pass one on a level whether or not you feel desperate. Saves time and toes later.

5 Look for shoes which have support across the instep and the heel.

6 Tighten the strap at the back of sling backs. Your buckled strap which you keep treading on and creasing shows that it's not tight enough.

7 Tighten the laces on trainers. Whenever you stop with your group or by yourself for a break, check your laces. If necessary, pull them tight and re-tie the knot.

Happy walking!

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and phtographer. (Photos of fruised toes and various types of shoes will be added later.) Please come back and share links to your favourite posts.

What Might Help Your Painful Heel

Problem

I had painful heels, most specifically my right heel. I self-diagnosed and went to a UK GP for confirmation. After being stuck indoors for a month in the UK during snow the problem cured itself. 

However, I had two pieces of advice. One was from the GP to use a rolling pin under my foot. 

Back Pain

I had a painful back and she said it was referred pain from my neck, and she recommended using a backpack instead of a heavy bag carried on one side. So the two problems were related, leaning to the right. I often sit with my right arm resting on the desk as well, as my family observed.

Look at other people sitting at desks in offices at work and at home, at benches in restaurants, or walking along the street. You can see straight away that some people lean to one side or lean forward, putting strain on one side of the body. 

If you have a problem, see your doctor. But you may be able to prevent a problem, or stop it getting worse, by checking your own posture and that of your family.

I have an additional problem from years ago. My collar bone which broke in a pedestrian accident in Corsica never set properly.  

New Tennis Ball

I asked a friend who had an old tennis ball in his car if I could have an old tennis ball. He said, "Not that one. I throw it to the dog to bring back, so it's been in the mud and in the dog's mouth. I'll give you a new one."

The tennis ball has not had much use because I seem pretty much cured. However, if I get worse again, I know the different people to approach, their likely answers, and objects which might help.

Author

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.