Foot Health Awareness

While April is regarded as “National Foot Health Awareness Month,” we believe foot health is important every day, week and month. Our feet are vital to our overall health. They carry us everywhere we go and are essential in facilitating mobility. When we experience pain in our feet, we often tend to overlook it and just keep moving along – albeit sometimes in pain.

 

According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, approximately 20% of the U.S. population suffers from at least one foot problem per year. This could be due to poor fitting shoes, or as the result of other health problems such as diabetes or arthritis.

 

We walk 8,000 – 10,000 steps per day, with about 3-times our body weight impacting our feet with every step. It is important that our foundation is sound and stable to help protect not only our feet, but our knees, hips and lower back. 

 

1.    If your feet hurt, you will want to see a podiatrist to diagnose the cause of your foot pain and provide treatment. Discomfort could be a signal that you might have arthritis, tendinitis, or plantar fasciitis, or something more serious like peripheral arterial disease or neuropathy.
2.    Scheduling regular checkups with your physician is also important. Conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and osteoporosis can also lead to foot problems.
3.    Choosing well-fitting footwear is crucial. Wearing the correct length is equally as important as wearing the correct width. If you haven’t had your foot measured recently, head to a full-service retailer and have a trained sales associate determine your correct size and width.
4.    Wash your feet thoroughly each day and dry them well, especially between toes. Then, moisturize with lotion.
5.    Wear shoes with a moderate to low heel height and good support. Make sure shoes have adequate toe space without rubbing or squeezing. Also take a walk on a carpeted surface before buying to ensure the heel isn’t slipping, which can result in blisters.
6.    Wear shoes with good arch support, firm heel counters and shock absorbing soles. 
7.    Avoid wearing the same shoes every day. Most people’s feet do sweat quite a bit – even in moisture-wicking socks. This means your shoes will absorb a lot of that moisture. Allowing your shoes to air out after use helps to avoid development of infection or foot problems. 
8.    Change up the heel height. If you choose to wear a higher heel one day, opt for a lower heel the next. This will benefit your feet, ankles and lower back.
9.    Replace athletic footwear every six months or 500 miles as the shoes will begin to lose support and show signs of wear, which could result in foot and heel pain.