5 (More) Popular Health Trends Podiatrists Love and Hate
From viral TikTok challenges to the latest recovery gadgets, there is always a new way to optimize your body. But while these trends might look great in a thirty-second clip, our patients’ feet at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists often tell a different story. If you are looking to separate the helpful habits from the harmful fads, here is a breakdown of what we podiatrists love and hate.
Love: Magnesium Soaks
You have probably seen magnesium flakes or Epsom salts trending as a cure-all for sleep and muscle soreness. From a foot health perspective, this is a major win. Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant, and soaking your feet after a long day of walking on hard pavement helps reduce the tension in your arches and calves.
Hate: Foot Peeling Masks
Those viral videos showing entire layers of skin peeling off a foot like a snake might be satisfying to watch, but they are incredibly risky. These masks use high concentrations of acids to exfoliate your skin chemically.
The problem is that you cannot control how deep the chemical goes. Podiatrists often see patients with chemical burns or raw, bleeding skin because the mask removed too much of the protective barrier. If you have any underlying issues like diabetes or poor circulation, these masks can lead to serious infections that are difficult to heal.
Love: Compression Therapy Boots
Recovery boots that use dynamic air compression have moved from pro-athlete locker rooms into the mainstream. These boots use a pulsing action to move fluid out of your legs and feet.
We love this trend because it directly combats the pooling of blood and lymphatic fluid that happens when you sit or stand for eight hours a day. By improving your circulation and reducing swelling, these boots help keep your tissues healthy and your legs feeling light, even during the most stressful work weeks.
Hate: The 12-3-30 Workout
The 12-3-30 workout (incline12, speed 3, for 30 minutes) is a massive fitness trend, but doing it without proper preparation is a recipe for injury. While the incline is great for cardio, that steep of an incline too soon into your fitness journey can strain your Achilles tendon and your plantar fascia.
The Trend Podiatrists Love: Toe Spacers
You might have seen people wearing silicone spreaders between their toes while they lounge at home. This is a trend that helps counteract the damage done by narrow fashion shoes.
By gently encouraging your toes back into their natural alignment, you help improve the balance and stability of your entire foot. It is a simple, passive way for you to keep your joints mobile and reduce the pressure that leads to bunions.
Check out our previous article on 5 health trends worth trying!
If you’re experiencing foot pain, discomfort, or changes in how you walk, come see the expert team at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists. With locations in Tucson and Oro Valley areas of Pima County, Arizona, Bradley A. Whitaker, D.P.M., FACFAS, Peter C. Merrill, D.P.M., AACFAS, and Zeno Pfau, D.P.M., are here for you. Call us at (520) 575-0800 or contact us online!
