Post WOD Recovery

You work hard, and your feet work hard too. After intense exercice, you have to allow time for your body to recover. The sport of fitness involves repetitive impact and ground contact for your feet. Taking care of your feet and allowing them to recover after a WOD feels great--and can help to avoid injury. Here's 3 ways to treat your feet:

1. Keep Them Clean and Dry - Your feet will certainly work up a sweat during your WOD, but warm, wet spaces are breeding grounds for harmful bacteria and fungus. Wash up as soon after your workout as possible, and slip your feet into a fresh, dry pair of socks. If your feet are very prone to sweating or overheating, you may find a foot deodorizer / antiperspirant helpful. Synthetic socks wick moisture away better than cotton, so select the right pair for both before and after exercising.

2. Stretch Them - Keep your feet strong and flexible by stretching them post-WOD. We have pinned some exercises for stronger feet on our Pinterest board, For The Minimalist. You should also be sure to put your feet up every once in a while to improve circulation.

Pamper Them - A pedicurist or proper at-home pedicure can keep the feet healthy. Trim your toenails straight across to avoid ingrown nails or painful impact. Soaking feet in epsom salt or ice water may help to reduce swelling and soothe aching muscles.

Most importantly, if you feel like you have a foot injury coming on, be sure to take care of it as soon as possible. Untreated injuries can lead to debilitation of the foot, hindering or halting your fitness progress. You can read more about common athletic injuries on last week's blog.

Here are some of our favorite fitness shoes for working out and keeping in shape!