Katherine, a working mom of two teens in Portland, Ore., noticed about a year ago that her feet
just plain hurt most of the time. “One night, I couldn’t fall asleep because the soles of my feet
throbbed, and I began to worry that I could have the same disease as my grandmother: peripheral
neuropathy,” Katherine remembers. The next morning she picked up some over-the-counter
cushioned shoe inserts, and they hit the spot. Within a few weeks of dutifully wearing comfortable
shoes with the inserts every time she was on her feet (even just at home in the kitchen), her foot
discomfort disappeared. Turns out she didn’t inherit a scary foot disease, her overworked tootsies
just needed some extra TLC.
As many as 84% of women have experienced minor but troubling foot ailments, such as blisters,
corns, ingrown nails and heel pain, according to a recent survey by the American Podiatric Med-
ical Association (APMA). In most cases, a little attention could put the spring back in their step.
In other words, take good care of your feet, and they can better take you all the places you want
to go. The following inexpensive, low-hassle, home foot-care methods can pamper your feet back
to prime condition.

Follow the Footsteps “I love at-home foot pampering— I call it ‘affordable luxury,’” says Kathleen Satterfield, D.P.M., a podiatrist and president of the American Association of Women Podiatrists. But to get the most out of a do-it-yourself foot spa, she stresses, you must do things in the right order.

Soak and Massage

Soak your feet to soften
the hardened layers of
outer skin. This can be
done in a bathtub or pan of
water, but it’s much easier to use
a foot bath. Some increase the
pleasure with bubbles, heat and

massaging action. Feel free to a dd Epsom or bath salts for even more luxury, and let your feet soak for at least five minutes. After your foot bath, prop one foot at a time on your lap, and grasp the foot, slowly moving your thumbs from the top of your toes to the bottom of your heel, then back. Repeat this technique as m any times as needed to get your feet warmed up for some serious pampering, suggests podiatrist Christian Robertozzi, D.P.M., president of the American Podiatric Medical Association.

CVS Foot Soap

Bran, borax and iodide ease tender feet.

Also works well as a full-body bath.

HoMedics
Jet Spa Foot Bath
BL-300

Foot-friendly features

and powerful jets

luxuriate feet.