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Prevention of leg pain
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025

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Some acute situations that are easy to prevent
When traveling long distances by car, train, or air, get up and walk around every two hours to reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis.
For those prone to falls, the assistance of a cane or walker may be helpful.
Falls can occur when walking on uneven surfaces, or, for example, falling in the bathroom when the rug is too slippery. The main thing is to assess the minimum risks and not fall for this bait.
Maintaining an ideal weight will reduce stress on your bones and joints and reduce your risk of arthritis, obesity and other chronic diseases.
Regular exercise and a healthy, balanced diet, including adequate calcium and vitamin D, will maintain strong bones and flexible joints.
For those who have been ill for a long time and have limited mobility, controlling the disease will help reduce the risk of complications. This is especially true for treating diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Smoking is a major risk factor for leg circulatory disease and should be avoided.
Leg pain is not normal at all
When it comes to feet, people think pain is normal. Eight out of 10 people responding to a 2009 survey of members of the American Podiatric Medical Association reported having at least one foot ache at some point in their lives. More than half complained of heel pain. Others screamed in pain from blisters, calluses, inflamed nerves, and ingrown toenails.
"Foot pain is not normal, and yet people put up with it," says Dennis Frisch, MD, a podiatrist in Boca Raton, Fla. About 35 percent of those who reported heel pain in a survey, for example, said it had been bothering them for two years or longer.
"There are some age-related changes in our feet that can make foot pain more likely and less tolerable. But foot pain is not inevitable as we age," says Dr. Frisch.
If you follow simple leg pain prevention, there is a high chance that your gait will be light and your legs will be pain-free.
Pay attention to foot hygiene and pedicure
It's easy to neglect foot care, especially during the colder months when they're often in closed shoes or boots. Make sure you cut your toenails straight and across to avoid ingrown toenails.
Moisturizing dry skin on your feet when cracks appear will help relieve inflammation and repel infections, as bacteria enter the body directly through cracks in the skin.
If you go for a pedicure, make sure the technician disinfects the tools well. Tools for home pedicures are sold in cosmetics and perfume stores, in some nail salons. You can buy your own and use them only for yourself.
Be aware of age-related changes in your legs
As we age, we lose some of our fat deposits, especially in the lower part of our feet, which interferes with cushioning. This may mean that as we age, we need to wear stronger shoes to protect our feet from damage.
Joint changes may begin as early as age 40. Fingers may bend or contract normally, and nails may be thick, increasing the risk of ingrown nails.
Be alert for problems such as bunions, where the toes begin to become deformed. Bony bumps at the base of the big toe can make it painful. These conditions can appear or worsen with age.
Your foot size can change as you get older. In general, feet get longer and wider as you age, and tendons weaken. Don't be surprised if your shoe size changes, too, and be sure to take this into account when buying shoes.
Wear shoes that are appropriate for your activity.
When putting on shoes, make sure that your toes are not too tightly pressed into the toe. Otherwise, your feet will be under pressure and you will feel uncomfortable.
Shoe sizes have become less standardized. This means that the same size from different brands can feel different. Get shoes that are definitely not too tight, as your feet tend to swell throughout the day.
If you are buying athletic shoes for walking, running or other workouts, you need to choose the right ones for your lifestyle and workouts. Walking shoes, for example, have different properties than athletic sneakers.
Give your arches the support they deserve
Foot health experts say it's important to choose shoes that fit properly to support the arch of your foot. To do this, walk around the store in the shoes you've just chosen for at least 10 minutes. If they're uncomfortable, don't buy them.
How to determine what arch you have? Take a piece of paper, wet your feet, and stand on it with your foot. If you see only your heel and toes, and there is a large empty space between them, a large gap, you have a high arch.
If you see a wide footprint from your foot, all the voids are filled, you most likely have flat feet, and your feet need more support than you previously thought.
Flat feet need more support than other types of feet. Orthopedic shoes are needed. They need orthopedic insoles so that the foot feels cozy and comfortable.
Orthopedic shoes do not last forever. Feet should be examined by a specialist every 1-2 years to make sure what condition they are in and whether a different type of shoe is needed.
Stilettos or flip-flops?
Women's shoes with heels of three, four or more inches may look glamorous, but they are the wrong choice for everyday wear, podiatrists say.
However, many medical professionals are realistic and know that many high heel lovers are not about to destroy their collection of fashionable shoes.
Then you need to choose a moderate option and wear high heels only occasionally, unless circumstances require you to stand on your feet for several hours.
Why not wear high heels all the time? It may look sexy, but it is very hard on your feet. They become overstrained and sore. The higher the heel, the more pressure there is on your toes. Wearing high heels also becomes more uncomfortable as you age, because changes in your feet, such as loss of fat on the bottom of your legs, interfere.
For those who cannot give up small heels, it is necessary to consider the option of a style with built-in arch support. In this case, even with a heel, a woman feels much more stable.
Do you walk barefoot?
People with healthier feet are safer to walk barefoot than people with sore feet. If your foot still has enough fatty tissue and there is no callus on it, walking barefoot is useful. But if you have problems with your feet, your foot encounters many small stones and other obstacles on its way, then doctors do not advise walking barefoot.
Consider your environment before deciding to go barefoot. In a health club or public sauna, for example, you may risk picking up a fungal infection if you go barefoot.
Diabetics should not go barefoot, say traumatologists. 'They may suffer from diabetic neuropathy (a problem with the nerve endings), so they cannot feel the condition of their feet well when walking barefoot. If an infection gets through microcracks in the foot, people with diabetes may have more problems than healthy people. It will be harder for them to treat infections.
Are the soles of your shoes flexible?
Walking in shoes with flexible soles and low heels reduces the risk of injury and foot pain. When choosing shoes, bend and twist them. The sole must be flexible, otherwise your feet and shins will get tired with each step.
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Do foot baths
Give your feet the attention they deserve by pampering them with a foot soak. This is a great way to revive your feet and focus on relaxing treatments. Foot soaks will keep them in great condition.
Peppermint oil is good for restoring the leg, and lavender oil is good for calming.
You can soak your feet in water with almond milk if you want soft, kissable feet. Or you can add one glass of milk and one tablespoon of almond oil to the water. Mix these ingredients and enjoy the foot bath for 15 minutes.
If your feet are swollen, add a handful of sea salt or iodized salt to the water you wash your feet with.
When you massage your feet after the foot bath, take this opportunity to see if there are any bumps, warts, growths, cracks, flaking areas of your feet, etc. that need special attention? If you have any hard calluses, corns, or growing bunions on your feet, you may need to see a doctor to make sure they are not left unattended, so as not to lead to foot pain.