TOP TIPS FROM THE EXPERTS

Do wear heels sometimes

“Women ask me all the time if high heels are bad for them,” says foot specialist, Dr Rock Positano. “If you’re heading to a party or a job, where you’ll be sitting a lot, it’s fine to wear a heel. It’s when you stand or walk in them all day that it becomes a problem. If possible, only stand in them for two hours. And if you just can’t resist dancing the night away in heels, choose a sturdy wedge.”

Don’t share pedicure tools

“I tell friends to take their own nail file, buffer and polish anytime they go for a pedicure,” says foot and ankle surgeon, Dr Emily A. Cook. “Salon tools can carry germs – particularly the emery board, which can’t be sanitised. And while it’s unlikely that bacteria or fungi could grow in a bottle of polish, the polish brush is used on other people’s toes. What if one of them had a fungal infection, or the brush is exposed to their blood through a small cut? It’s worth being careful.”

Keep the blood flowing

“As the body part furthest from your heart, your feet are the first to feel sluggish when blood accumulates there,” says podiatric surgeon, Dr Hillary Brenner. Avoid swollen ankles (and maybe varicose veins) by going for at least a two-minute walk every hour, she advises. Stuck in a meeting? Scrunch your calf muscles to get blood pumping again.

Choose the right socks

“Socks are often an afterthought, but wearing the wrong kind can ruin your workout,” says veteran runner Lisa Jhung. In general, sweat-wicking socks without seams are the right go for walkers. These are socks designed to pull moisture away from your feet so you’re less likely to get blisters and hot spots. Lisa recommends choosing socks made from merino wool that will keep your feet cool in summer and warm in winter.