Improve your Mobility by Practicing these 5 Steps

The best way you can improve your mobility is to keep your feet healthy, especially if you are diabetic. These 5 moves below can help you improve your mobility and decrease your chances for amputation, according to Harvard Health.

  1. Watch your Weight
    • For better mobility, it is important to maintain a healthy weight. When you are overweight, your feet are affected by that extra weight with every step. Added weight can even put you at a greater risk for diabetes or poor blood circulation. This can lead to foot pain or neuropathy, which is a loss of feeling in the feet.
  2. Wear appropriate shoes
    • One of the best preventable measures you can take for your foot health is wearing appropriate shoes. Uncomfortable shoes like high heels or tight fitting shoes are okay every once in a while, but the majority of the time you should be wearing shoes that are comfortable and supportive.
  3. Moisturize your Feet
    • As you age, the skin on your feet can become thinner and drier. This can cause calluses or cracks that can bleed and cause you to have open sores and decrease your mobility. Rub thick lotion all over your feet after a shower or bath, but be sure to avoid the spaces in between your toes. Too much moisture in those spaces can cause infections.
  4. Have Good foot Hygiene
    • Having good foot hygiene means washing your feet when you bathe and making sure they are completely dry. It also means catering to your toenails too. Make sure your nails are properly cut straight across to avoid ingrown toenails. Purchase a foot file and be sure to rub all calluses off.
  5. Stretch your Feet
    • Stretching can help prevent foot pain and increase or maintain your mobility. In our last blog we went over multiple stretches you can do for your feet. Check it out here: