An Easy Way to Take Care of Your Feet

Every day, your feet take a beating. They're your body's first point of contact with the ground - just try going anywhere without them.

Still, feet encounter their share of derision. They're smelly, funny-looking and often achy. The Sure Foot-brand Foot Rubz can't make them smell or look better, but it can help with the achy part.

Foot Rubz cost about $5, and you can find them at many sports stores such as REI. They're golf ball-sized rubber balls bristling with 172 little nubs. The concept is to roll them under your bare feet to massage out the abuses and trauma of a hard day of being a foot. I first came across Foot Rubz after a massage therapist suggested I roll a golf ball under my feet to relieve knots in my feet. Ask a good massage therapist or podiatrist: Beat-up feet often equal sore ankles. Relieve the pressure on your feet and almost every part of your lower leg will feel better. Reflexologists will probably go further in their endorsement of the idea.

Using Foot Rubz is easy. Pressure from your weight, either sitting or standing, presses into the nubs and allows them to massage into your foot's tissues. A few minutes per side usually is all you need to deliver some benefits. I usually start sitting down with low pressure. I increase the pressure a bit, switching between each foot. For the final stage, I usually stand to get a little more pressure.

For new users, the first use can be a bit uncomfortable, both during use and the day after. You'll likely feel some tender spots. That's not unusual - it's the aftereffects of a neglected bunch of muscles finally getting their due. Successive uses will get more comfortable, and you'll start feeling relief immediately after use.

At $5, it's a pretty cheap experiment for those who don't have the deep pockets for a daily foot massage. My feet face a wide variety of activities every week - running and tennis can really take their toll, not to mention just plain walking around. I'd imagine any serious sort of athlete or people who wear high heels would also reap some great benefits of out of Foot Rubz.

The manufacturer, Sure Foot by DueNorth, also recommends Foot Rubz for hands. I have tried that yet. But if they're as good with hands as they are with feet, I'll make a habit of using them in both spots.