Keep Your Feet Pain-Free

Watch out for those summertime flip-flops and ballet flats: Prolonged use could give you a painful foot condition, a podiatrist tells NPR. Shoes without enough arch or back support put too much strain on an important piece of tissue called the plantar fascia. Fashionable or not, it's better to go with a lightweight, comfortable pair of running shoes.

Another podiatrist, who merged her profession with Pilates, says it's best to be proactive about foot care and recommends starting each morning with a few minutes of foot-and-toe stretches. “We ask a lot of our feet,” she says. “And in order to give them the attention they deserve, spending a little time every day can be so beneficial.” (More feet stories.)