It is very important to regularly cut your nails to maintain good hygiene and prevent different complications, such as an ingrown or an infection. For a lot of people, cutting or clipping the toenails is a very easy task to accomplish. In fact, it can be done in just a few minutes. However, this is not the case for everyone. While the task may seem simple enough for many, some people find it difficult to cut their toenails as they are unable to reach their feet.
There can be a lot of reasons a person is unable to reach his or her feet. This issue may not be a big deal for others, as they can simply visit a salon to have a pedicure whenever they need it. However, there are times when the inability of an individual to cut their own toenails may seem frustrating and may leave them helpless. In fact, some people may be bothered even just by thinking about it.
If you are among the people who find it difficult to cut your toenails as you can’t reach your feet, no worries because we are here to help you. In this post, we are giving you some of the different ways to cut your toenails when you can’t reach your feet.
Different Reasons People Can’t Reach Their Feet
You might be wondering about the possible reasons people are unable to reach their feet and cut their own toenails. There are actually many different reasons behind this, and below are some of them:
Mobility Issues
There are some people who are suffering from mobility issues due to different reasons, such as age, injury, or a medical condition that makes it difficult for them to bend, twist, or stretch. If this is the case, it is painful for them to bend and reach their feet to cut their toenails. Even though some may be able to reach and touch their toes, the majority of them are unable to stay in that position for a long period, which is needed when cutting toenails.
Obesity
Obesity can be one of the major reasons an individual is unable to reach his feet and cut his toenails. Being overweight makes it difficult for people to stretch and reach down to their feet. That is why most of them seek help from someone else to cut their toenails for them.
Arthritis
Arthritis is a condition that causes joint pain and stiffness, especially among older adults. When this occurs, it becomes difficult for a person to reach his or her feet and toenails. In addition to arthritis, there are many other similar conditions that may have the same effect, such as sprains and bursitis, which both limit a person’s flexibility, making it hard and painful to stretch down to cut the toenails.
Pregnancy
Women who are pregnant may also find it challenging to reach their feet and toenails because of the extra weight and changes in their bodies. As pregnant women’s bellies become bigger, it will be more and more difficult for them to bend forward and reach down to their feet to cut their toenails.
Age
As people age, their bodies become less flexible. This can make cutting toenails more difficult, painful, and sometimes almost impossible. Aside from that, a lot of older adults have poor eyesight, which may make them unable to see which toenails they are about to cut clearly. This is why a lot of older people usually leave their toenails growing long as they are unable to reach them.
Tips on Cutting Toenails for People Who Can’t Reach Their Feet
If you are in a situation wherein you can’t reach your feet to cut your own toenails, don’t fret because there are some solutions that you can try. In fact, some of them will not require you to bend down to try and reach your feet. If you are curious about these, below are some tips on cutting toenails for people who can’t reach their feet:
Use Specialty Toenail Clippers
This is probably one of the best tips that we can give if you can’t reach your feet. There are special toenail clippers that you can buy today that feature extended handles. These clippers will allow you to reach your toenails without the need to bend or twist too much. These are perfect for people who are overweight or have flexibility issues.
In addition to that, there are also other types of toenail clippers that may help make cutting toenails easier and less stressful. Below are some of them:
Electric Nail Clippers: These can make cutting nails fast and easy. Electric nail clippers do not require any manual effort, making them great for seniors who are unable to exert a lot of force.
Rotary Clippers: These nail clippers are easy to use and are able to clip away nails with just a few short strokes. They are also perfect for seniors who have limited mobility.
Angled Clippers: These are great for people who are unable to reach their toenails. It’s because angled clippers enable users to get a good grip and cut the toenails efficiently.
Podiatric Foot Files: This one is not a clipper, but a nail file can be useful in removing dead skin cells and debris from the toes. It is also a safer option for those who are unable to reach their toenails.
Use a Footstool or Step Stool
If you are unable to reach your toenails to cut them because of mobility issues, one of the things that you can try is using a footstool or a step stool. Doing so will elevate your feet, making it easier for you to reach your toenails without straining or stretching your body too much. There are many available step stools in stores and online that you can buy.
Ask for Help
If you have tried using specialty nail clippers and step stools but still find it hard to reach your feet and cut your own toenails, maybe it is time for you to ask for help from other people. If you have a family member, friend, or caregiver who can assist you, you can ask them to help you cut your toenails. If you can or if you have the budget, you can also visit a nail salon regularly to have your nails cut and cleaned. This is also among the safest ways for you to have your toenails cut.
Visit a Podiatrist
If you are unable to reach your toenails due to certain medical conditions or mobility issues, another good idea is to visit a podiatrist. They are experts that can help you cut your toenails safely and as well as provide you with the best tips when it comes to foot care.
Products You Can Consider For Cutting Your Toenails Easily
If you are in search for useful products that you can buy that will help you cut your toenails with ease, below are some recommendations that you might want to check out:
Green Bell Stainless Foot Nail Clipper
This is an angled toenail clipper that is great for those who can’t reach their toenails easily. Since it is angled, you will be able to get a good grip of it. It is great for cutting toenails straight across, and also perfect for toenails that are growing along the shape of the toe. It is a sharp nail clipper that can cut through both thin and thick nails.
360-Degree Rotary Nail Clipper with Long Handle
This nail clipper features a 360-degree swivel head to help you find the best position of the blades to cut your toenails easily and effortlessly. It has easy grip and requires little pressure to cut as it has long handles. It is perfect for those who find it difficult to reach their toenails. It is a heavy-duty nail clipper that is sharp, allowing you to cut your nails perfectly without jagging or tearing.
If you are looking for a safer option to shorten your toenails when you find it hard to reach them, you can instead use a nail file. This toenail file is long enough to help you reach your toes. It has comfortable non-slip handles that makes it comfortable to hold. It is strong and durable, and is great to be used on thick nails.
Aside from using longer nail clippers or nail file, another good idea is to use a step stool in order to reach your toenails and cut them. This one is a compact and lightweight option. It is made of plastic and is foldable, making it easy to store when not in use. All you have to do is put your feet up this step stool to reach your toenails more easily and comfortably.
If the options or products above don’t seem to work well for you, your best option is to use a long-handled toenail clipper to reach your toenails effectively. This toenail clipper is made specifically for seniors and people with mobility issues. It is very easy to use. You just need to press the plunger down on the long handle to cut your toenails. It features an 18-inch-long handle that will surely help you reach your toenails comfortably. Using this product along with a step stool can be a good idea.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Long-Handled Toenail Clipper
If you have decided to buy a long-handled toenail clipper in order for you to reach your toenails and cut them, there are some important things that you need to consider to find the best one that will suit your needs. Below are some of them:
Handle Length: The handle of the toenail clipper should be long enough to allow you to reach your feet without bending or twisting your body too much. Make sure that the handle length of the clipper is long enough for your height, flexibility, and mobility.
Clipper Head Size: You also need to ensure that the size of the clipper head is right for your toenails. Buying one that is too small or too big will make it uncomfortable, difficult, and unsafe to use.
Blade Sharpness: It is also important to look for a toenail clipper with sharp blades. This way, it can cut through thick toenails easily without crushing or tearing them.
Grip: You need to make sure that the clipper has a non-slip grip that you can easily hold and control. This way, you can cut your toenails accurately and safely.
Ease of Use: If you have limited mobility or dexterity, it is important to find a toenail clipper that is easy to use and maneuver. Look for one that has a simple design and does not need a lot of force to use.
By considering these factors, you will be able to find a long-handled toenail clipper that is effective, easy to use, and, more importantly, safe.
Conclusion
Taking care of your feet is very important as they carry our weight and help us move from one place to another. That is why if there is any pain caused by different conditions like an ingrown nail or an infection, it is very difficult to go about our daily tasks. Therefore, if you can’t reach your feet to cut your own toenails, it is important to find a way to cut your toenails to avoid issues. Like what we’ve mentioned here, you may use specialized toenail clippers and step stools or ask for help from other people to make nail cutting easy and pain-free. We hope this post helped you learn more about the different ways to cut toenails when you can’t reach your feet.