- The aim of this lesson is to learn how keeping clean helps us stay healthy and how looking after our feet can avoid foot problems (Equivalent to UK GCSE Physical Education)
Hygiene is important, both for sports people and those who don't play sport. It can help keep us healthy and keep our friends!
In particular, you should be paying attention to:
Washing: Everybody should have a bath or shower regularly to help keep them clean and free of odours. Athletes in particular need to wash more than most people because:
When we exercise, we sweat. Sweat includes water, salt, ammonia and other waste products. Sweat itself doesn't actually smell. The smell comes from bacteria on the skin feeding on the sweat!
Cleaning your teeth: If you don't brush your teeth at least twice a day, bacteria and plaque can build up in your mouth. This can lead to tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath. You should also get your teeth checked at least once a year by your dentist.
Changing your clothes: When we sweat, our clothes get damp. If you leave them, bacteria feed off this sweat and they start to smell. Change your clothes regularly and wash them thoroughly to avoid this.
Foot care
Our feet need looking after too. We are constantly on our feet, wearing hot, sweaty shoes and trainers. Our feet also have lots of crevices, like inbetween our toes, where dirt and sweat can lurk!
Athletes foot
This is a fungus which grows inbetween your toes. It is caught through contact with the infection, so for example walking on changing room floors and using other peoples towels etc. It can be quite itchy but can be treated using creams and powders from the chemist. You can avoid catching it by wearing flip-flops in communal areas of changing rooms, washing your feet regularly and drying them well, as well as not sharing socks/towels and avoiding shoes that make your feet sweat!
Verrucas
These are very easily caught, through walking on communal changing areas and sharing towels etc. They are actually flat warts on the sole of the foot. You can avoid them by wearing flip flops in communal areas and not sharing towels etc. If you have one, you should wear flip flops or even socks when swimming. You can treat them with products from the chemist.
It is also important to make sure your shoes fit properly, are suitable for the activity and are changed when they get old to avoid:
Blisters
When your shoes rub on your feet the friction causes a blister. These should be kept clean and dry and covered with a plaster. This will help it to heal on its own. Don't burst it yourself as this increases the risk of infection!
Corns
Corns are hard pads of skin on the feet and toes. They are caused by rubbing shoes and excessive weight bearing on one part of the foot. You can get corn plasters to help get rid of them.
Bunions
Bunions are caused by ill fitting shoes, especially high heels! They occur on the joint between the big toe and foot which starts to look larger and inflamed. The only option to correct this problem is surgery. |
