Five nice things to do for your feet

Hot sand, tarry asphalt, high-heeled sandals, ten-mile hikes - feet certainly take a beating in summer.

Feet problems are extraordinarily common in the UK and the summer, when people are more apt to be active and away from home (and doctors), can be especially problematic.

However, there are ways to be nice to your feet.

1. Give your feet some air

Go barefoot or wear open-toed sandals whenever you can in the hot weather (except when you're in a communal shower or changing area) to help stop your feet from getting sweaty and smelly.
Wearing sandals that allow the feet to breathe whilst protecting them from unseen objects is sometimes the best option. "This is the best advice I have," says Dr James Brodsky, a clinical professor of orthopaedic surgery. "We see so many injuries from going barefoot. Even that cool grass that feels so good can be a dangerous, cutting object."

A second reason not to bare those feet is that you could have neuropathy - a disease of the peripheral nerves that causes weakness or numbness - without being aware of it. You could run across the street barefoot, and even if the tamac is hot enough to fry an egg on, you wouldn't feel it. However, you would get burned. "A lot of people don't know they have it (neuropathy) until they get an injury," Brodsky says.

Diabetics should never walk barefoot - even indoors, says Brodsky. Think everything left on the floor, especially in summer.

2. Avoid (or treat) heel pain

Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the plantar fascia, the band of connective tissue that supports the arch of your foot and extends to the heel. It is a common cause of heel pain. Every other step.

Dr Marlene Reid, a� former president of the American Association for Women Podiatrists, says plantar fasciitis can best be prevented by walking in sturdy shoes, with good stability and arch support, rather than flimsy sandals or flip-flops.

Once the pain starts, the disorder - which usually hurts most after the first steps in the morning - can go on for months, gradually getting worse rather than better.

If the pain lasts more than two months, Reid recommends seeing a doctor. "You could stretch gently in the morning before walking," she says. "There also are different types of heel cups you can buy.

"The doctor might also recommend physical therapy or night splints," Reid says. "Cortisone can be injected, and there are shockwave and cryogenic treatments available to destroy the inflamed tissue and promote normal healing."

3. Wear sensible shoes

Sandals that make you grip with your toes to keep them on may cause tendonitis, an inflammation of the tendons in the toes, Reid says. So get a shoe that attaches firmly.