Walk down any high street, or follow a commuting crowd and it soon becomes clear that many people hobble along painfully, or shuffle along. A surprising number - mostly men - walk like Charlie Chaplin, feet splayed grotesquely. As many as one in three women are wearing the wrong sized shoes. Bunions, corns and callouses, hard skin, bruised and battered toes, and feet that are so painful and aching their owners find it difficult to walk far, are the commonest complaints. But few people ever have their feet examined. People who would never miss regular visits to the dentist have never been to a chiropodist. Keeping feet in shape is not simply vanity. They have hundreds of nerve endings, and foot pain can affect everywhere: Chronic low-back pain, knee and ankle trouble or even headaches may originate with inappropriate shoes or minor abnormalities. People push their feet forward when wearing high shoes and this causes them to roll back on their heels. In turn, this thrusts the pelvis forward and puts strain on the lower spine and other joints. Sports trainers and Doc Martin-style shoes win approval from orthopaedic surgeons and physiotherapists - but even here there are problems. Worn continuously, they become sweaty hothouses where fungal infections and verrucae thrive. Many sprained ankles and bruised toes result from playing football or running in inappropriate shoes. Fashion dictates even here, and some people wear the same trainers for everything. While there can be a genuine tendency to splayed feet, the 'slob culture' of dressing in ill-fitting large clothes, ill-fitting, unlaced shoes and slouching along with shoulders hunched and hands thrust deep into pockets must carry some of the blame. No one wants to put a damper on fashion and fun but attention given now can prevent problems later. Leonardo da Vinci reportedly regarded the feet as a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art. With a little more pampering and care, we can keep them that way...! To relieve tired aching feet, lie down with your feet on a cushion and circle the feet in different directions. Or put your feet alternately in hot and cold water a few times. Massage feet and lower leg using slow, upward movements, pressing gently. Try tea tree oil, which has antiseptic qualities, or a menthol based oil. Even olive oil is fine but do not use baby oil as it is not absorbed. Where safe, walk barefoot. If standing for long, shift the weight from side to side, particularly during pregnancy. 'Listen' to your feet. If you have aches in the big joints, pain in the ball of the foot or inflamed skin, book a foot check with a chiropodist to avoid trouble later. If you keep turning your ankle, consult a physiotherapist, who may be able to suggest exercises. Take time to choose shoes. If they do not fit do not buy them. Shop for shoes in the afternoon as feet tend to swell during the day. Do not wear the same shoes every day. Keep trainers fresh by machine washing. Revive shoes by airing and wiping with surgical spirit. Wear cotton socks. Practice walking with your feet pointing straight ahead. Toes should point up. A proportion of splayed feet are a bad habit.

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