Your feet are quite strong and crucial as your entire mobility is dependent upon them. They are used for activities like sprinting, jumping, and walking, apart from enabling you to stand up straight by supporting your body weight.
Your feet, however, are also frequently overlooked. You may choose to wander around without shoes, leaving them vulnerable to different infections. Here are some guidelines to remember in order to maintain the health and happiness of your feet.
Is foot care necessary?
Did you know April is Foot Health Awareness Month? Your entire body rests on your feet, which are also in mobility for most of the day. Depending on your lifestyle and the activities you engage in, many issues may arise if you don’t practice basic foot care. Let’s learn about a few do’s and don’ts.
Athlete’s Foot
- Do: Keep your feet dry and clean.
- Don’t: Walk barefoot.
- Don’t: Let it go untreated since it can spread to other body areas and infect people through floors and mats.
Hammertoes
- Don’t: Wear footwear with a tight or pointed toe box.
- Do: Choose flexible, comfortable shoes and orthotics might help treat hammertoes.
Dry Feet
- Do: Cover your feet with sticky moleskin or soft bandages to avoid friction and subsequent cuts and blisters.
- Do: Use talcum powder to control foot sweat.
Bunions
- Don’t: Wear tight shoes.
- Do: Wear shoes that are the proper size, meaning they shouldn’t be too loose or tight.
- Do: Replace shoes periodically.
- Don’t: Wear heels and shoes with pointy or sharp toes.
- Do: Walk barefoot to strengthen the foot muscles.
Foot Care Techniques
- Do: Wash your feet.
- Do: Inspect your feet regularly, especially if you have diabetes.
- Do: Regularly moisturize your feet to prevent flaky or cracked skin.
- Don’t: Share no pedicure equipment.
Shoes
- Do: Put on comfortable footwear.
- Do: Change your shoes daily to prevent fungal infections.
- Do: Choose heels with a wide base if you like to wear them.
- Don’t: Share your socks and shoes.
Toenails
- Do: Cut your toenails straight across.
- Don’t: Attempt to clip your own ingrown nails.
Injuries
- Don’t: Ignore a sore foot.
- Do: Inspect the color and feel of something changes.
- Don’t: Shave calluses.
- Do: Regular exercise is important for foot fitness. Nonetheless, be careful to wear appropriate footwear for the workout.
- Do: Tennis ball rolling can help to relax the plantar fascia.
Like they say, preventive measures are always better. Proper care of your ankles and feet is considerably simpler than dealing with associated conditions, which may be painful and restrictive. It only takes a few steps. Talk to your podiatrist for best advice, care and treatment.
Call the friendly My Chicago Foot Expert staff at (773) 561-8100 or click here to schedule an appointment with Cook County podiatrist Stavros O. Alexopoulos, DPM, in our modern, comfortable Ravenswood office today.