Women's Health Magazine Interviews Dr. Ragland
"All of Your Quarantine Foot Problems Solved Here" appeared in the October 2020 issue of Women's Health. Big thank you to Jacqueline Andriakos for this interview opportunity!
Fix Your Feet friends, read on for your "Soul Save" tips from Dr. Ragland herself :)
This blog post includes an excerpt from the story—read the complete issue in the October 2020 print issue of Women's Health Magazine.
The body part getting the least love at home: Your feet. Life in lockdown took a toll on your base, podiatrists agree. We’ve got simple, soothing solutions.
By Jacqueline Andriakos
Photographed by Frank Frances
Ahh, you’re relishing the pants-off, bra-off, shoes-off life. And while it might seem that your feet should be happier, pros are hearing more complaints about pain, calluses, and tendinitis compared with pre-pandemic times.
Feet tend to be one of the most neglected parts of the body, for one. But our typical movement patterns have also shifted—and your feet are at the root of all those changes, says Yolanda Ragland, DPM, founder and CEO of Fix Your Feet in New York City. Another factor, she says, is that people are not used to practicing their own foot care. (When’s the last time you got a pedicure—and what have you been doing in the meantime?) "We’re accustomed to having pros provide foot services instead of self-maintaining."
But ignoring this key body part can open you up to other aches too. So since the pandemic finish line isn’t in sight quite yet, use this advice to address these pain points now. You’ll feel better and create a strong foundation…for the long haul.
PAIN POINTS:
You’re living in all your barefoot glory.
...Commit to slipping on “indoor shoes” in the morning—but not flimsy fuzzy slippers. “Your feet need their fortress,” Dr. Ragland says. “Flat slippers with plush lining may be cozy, but they can cause unintentional harm, such as plantar fasciitis.” Instead, find a style with a moderate, one-inch heel for all-day support (see “Cool Your Heels”)...
You’re hitting the ground running.
Or HIIT-ing it at the playground, and cardio dancing in the driveway. “Exercising outdoors can be harder on our joints, especially in the feet,” Dr. Ragland says. Without implementing a proper rehab regimen, you run the risk of issues like plantar fasciitis and metatarsalgia (a condition that brings on pain in the ball of the foot)...
You stand or sit at a desk or on a couch for hours.
...In serious cases, being less mobile may lead to lower-extremity edema, a disease that affects feet and surrounding parts, like the ankles and knees, says Dr. Ragland.
Get intermittent action. “Circulation means movement,” says Dr. Ragland. To stimulate proper flow, get up every hour or so, pace for a minute, then sit back down to resume boss mode. Oh, and permission to pamper, granted: Mix four parts water, one part apple-cider vinegar, and three tablespoons of Epsom salts and soak your tootsies for 20 minutes at least once weekly... This cocktail nixes pain and swelling and softens calluses and blisters (two birds, one stone). Step up your game by adding drops of mint essential oil, which is refreshing, Dr. Ragland adds.