It is extremely easy to forget about how important our feet are. They carry us around day and night and we pay them so little attention. Many of us wear uncomfortable work shoes or heels, stand for hours a day and primarily wear cheap flats or thongs.

When we start to neglect our feet it's not just discomfort we have to worry about but long-lasting damage to our feet, knees and spines.

However, basic foot pain is still a huge issue for healthy living. If you can't walk properly you can't exercise, get out and about, your balance will be negatively affected etc. Especially as you get older you need your feet to be in good working order to ensure you can look after the rest of your body.

In the short term, we need to worry about corns, bunions, and nail health, all of which are things that can cause basic foot pain as discussed above.

In the long term, we can face much worse such as back pain, fallen arches, hip pain and problems with your joints.

Fallen arches can be caused by tightness in the Achilles tendon up the back of the leg. This affects the muscles that support the arches and can flatten them over time which is uncomfortable and can lead to other issues. When the shape of the foot changes, the way we walk changes. This can then strain the knee joints, hip joints and spine in ways that cause lasting damage.

Of course, this doesn't mean that you must completely snub heels, flat shoes or shoes lacking in arch support. It simply means that if you have a pair of shoes that you wear for most of the day, every day, make sure that they are comfortable, supportive and of decent heel height. Then at the end of the day give your feet a little soak and a little rub. Treat any cuts, bruises and blisters as soon as they occur and always look after your toenails.

It is always a good idea to visit a Perth podiatrist for a check-up to diagnose any foot pain or related back pain. They will also be able to give you personalised tips to ensure your feet are properly looked after.