HOW TO KEEP YOUR FEET FIT AND FABULOUS

The average person walks approximately 115,000 miles in a lifetime (that is more than four times the circumference of the globe), and your poor feet live in shoes for 16 hours a day (which is two-thirds of a lifetime). No surprises, then, that millions of us seek medical advice for our feet each year and, thanks to a love of forbidding footwear; women's feet age quicker than men's and suffer far more problems.

Fit foot advice

• The skin on your feet is already the least lubricated on your body, and it only gets drier with age. For a deep moisture treat, place a pair of cotton socks on the radiator. Before going to bed, massage a teaspoon of olive oil into your skin and slip the warm socks on so the oil penetrates deeply as you sleep.
• High heels put added pressure on the balls of your feet, toes and joints. Some catwalk models resort to Restylane injections in the balls of their feet to give them extra padding and prevent that burning sensation. A far more sensible option is to use padded inserts (available from chemists), which cushion the ball of your foot and prevent it slipping forward in your shoe.
• Minimize the risk of heel-induced injuries by doing squats and calf raises to strengthen your leg muscles. Exercising your feet will also increase joint mobility and strength. Sit with feet outstretched and circle your ankles in either direction 10 times. Then curl up and stretch out your toes 10 times on each foot, or have fun trying to pick up a pencil off the floor.
• Drain away the excess fluid that causes swollen ankles and feet by propping your legs against the wall at a 45-degree angle for 10 minutes.

Smart shoe shopping

• Wearing the right size shoes improves your posture and helps prevent back problems later in life. Your toes should be able to wiggle in the shoe. Also vary heel height daily to keep the muscles in your feet and calves flexible.
• Walking in new shoes causes the majority of blisters, so always break shoes in by wearing them around the house for a short time. Avoid mass-produced shoes made of cheap materials, as they have trouble adapting to the shape of your feet, making them more likely to rub, causing blisters and pain.
• Feet can suffer the equivalent of middle-aged spread, flattening down to become up to a whole size bigger. They can also change size due to weight gain or loss, hard work and pregnancy, so it is worth getting your feet measured once a year after the age of 40.
• Around 90% of us have feet of different sizes (which is another reason for a regular measure). Always buy shoes to fit the larger foot and use a padded inner sole to make the other one fit snugly.

Around 90% of us have feet of different sizes. Always buy shoes to fit the larger foot.

Pamper your feet with this simple pedicure

1. Soak your feet in warm water for five minutes.
2. Cut toenails straight across and then file down any sharp edges (clipping the corners to give a round shape can lead to ingrown toenails)
3. Push back cuticles while they are soft with an orange stick.
4. Remove hard skin from around the heels and balls of your feet with a foot file. Do this when your feet are dry or you could remove too much skin.
5. Massage in a moisturizer and blot away any excess.
6. 'Squeak' the nails with a face flannel dunked in cold water in preparation for painting. Twist a strip of kitchen paper and weave it through your toes to separate them.
7. Apply a base coat and then two coats of colour (the more strokes you use to apply your polish, the longer-lasting the result). Reapply your top coat every two days for a pedicure that should last for up to two months.