Shine OnTim Tebow’s pampered feet: Male pedicures on the rise for athletes
Pedicure season is almost upon us, and while you might be inclined think that your mani-pedi pampering routine is strictly reserved for the ladies on a Saturday afternoon shopping break, that seems to no longer be the case. The next time you pop in for a quick beauty fix at your local nail spa, you might be in the company of a few burly men -- athletes, no less.
Some high-profile male athletes like New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow and Miami Heat shooting guard Dwayne Wade have recently been spotted getting their feet tended to, and not in the medical sense. They do, however, claim they're in it for the health benefits rather than the cosmetic appeal.
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"Regular sports pedicures reduce the development of blisters and calluses," says Cedric Bryant, chief science officer for the American Council on Exercise, to the Wall Street Journal. "And the massaging can help with muscle soreness."
Dr. Howard Osterman, the podiatrist for the Washington Wizards basketball team, says many of his players go for regular pedicures every six weeks to keep their feet healthy and injury-free. "They're not the least bit embarrassed, and they see it as part of their training program," he tells MSNBC. "It's as much medical as it is cosmetic," he confirms.
Osterman explains that there are many benefits of a regular pedicure for athletes, especially for basketball and tennis players who experience increased friction in their shoes from the constant stopping and starting in their sports, and for runners who are prone to hardened skin buildup and pressure points. Some of the many benefits include improved blood flow in the feet, reduced inflammation and pressure points, and prevention of ingrown toenails.
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Benny Feilhaber, a professional soccer player for the New England Revolution, admits that while a pedicure feels nice, it's not going to do much to help his war-torn soccer feet: "For me and most soccer players, our feet get beat up so much," he tells MSNBC. "We have bruises on our feet and nails, and even a pedicure can't fix how our feet look."
That might not stop him from partaking in the treatments, however. "I could definitely see myself getting one in the future, though," he adds. "But more for relaxation as opposed to making my feet look pretty."
Some salons are hopping on the male pedicure bandwagon by offering male-specific spa services or no-frills "sports pedicures" for the more skeptical spa-goers, which, according to the Wall Street Journal, is what Dwayne Wade had done.
How would you react if your man expressed interest in joining you for a day at the salon?
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