The Importance Of Having Healthy Feet

A podiatrist is a specialist in the area of foot and ankle medicine. They provide specialized care to individuals who have a variety of conditions affecting the bones and soft tissue in the feet and ankles and also perform surgery to improve health and relieve pain. Too often, people do not realize how important their feet are to their lives and their ability to perform activities each day. Good foot health is essential for nearly everything we do. Therefore, it is important to know how to care for your feet and how to recognize the need to visit a podiatrist for medical care.

1. Giving feet simple daily care is the basis for preventing many of the conditions that lead to foot problems. Wash them every day in warm, soapy water. Do not keep feet in water for extended periods or it will remove the oils from the skin that keep it supple. Use a soft, absorbent towel to dry feet, taking care to remove all the moisture between the toes. Turning this process into a part of your daily routine will help prevent ailments such as ingrown toenails, corns and athlete’s foot from occurring.
2. Although high heels are the single biggest cause of foot problems that bring individuals to the podiatrist office each year, flats are not a good idea either. Switching back and forth from high heels to flats regularly will frequently lead to Achilles tendinitis or cause heel pain. High heels cause the tendon to tighten over time, causing it distress when you switch to flats. The best shoes have a low, thick heel. If you switch between athletic shoes and heels, stretch the muscles in your calves frequently.
3. Invest in proper footwear when participating in any type of sports activity. Sports that require you to run cause a significant increase of pressure on the feet. Shoes that lack the appropriate support can lead to knee pain, sprained ankles, shin splints or torn ligaments that can have devastating consequences.
4. Do exercises that will keep your feet and legs strong. Nothing is a better defense for your body than making it stronger. Calf raises are a good exercise for this purpose which only requires you to slowly rise up on your tiptoes and then slowly lower back down to the floor. Another good choice is toe curls. The easiest way to perform this exercise is to pick up objects like pencils or marbles from the floor with your toes.
5. Use the appropriate clippers to trim toenails straight across regularly. Letting toenails get too long or curving the edges can lead to ingrown toenails. Pressure from shoes can increase the risk by pushing the nail into the nail-bed.
6. Recognize that if your feet hurt, there is a problem. It is better to go to a podiatrist early on to diagnose problems that may be taken care of easily and quickly.
7. Don’t ignore the pain. Even if you spent a fortune on designer shoes, the cost of your feet’s health isn’t worth wearing the latest style.

If you have pain or discomfort that doesn’t go away when you change shoes, schedule an appointment with a podiatrist who can determine if you have a condition of the foot that may be easily treated. Caring for your feet is important to ensure they are always healthy and pain-free no matter what you are doing.

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