New Year New Feet

Many people make New Years Resolutions to do(of not do) many things. But how many make the resolution to take better care of their feet? Those of you that have been in to see me for a foot problem know how disruptive a foot problem can be to our daily lives. Lets all make a few resolutions for the health of our feet in 2022. First, lets walk more. 7-10 thousand steps daily should be the goal for health maintenance. Second, lets pay attention to the the shoes we put on our feet. Favor function over style. Make sure you get the correct fit for your feet. For high heel wearers, keep use to a minimum and keep to a heel height of 2 inches maximum. Third, go barefoot once in a while. Barefoot walking on soft surfaces is great for improving balance and exercising the small foot muscles. If you have sensory loss due to neuropathy, make sure the surface is safe from potential injurious items before you go barefoot. Fourth, get a foot health check up. Dentists recommend an annual exam for the teeth. I recommend everyone come for a foot exam at least once a year to make sure there are no lurking foot conditions that can trip us up. Those who wear foot orthotics should also have them checked yearly to make sure they are functioning properly. Diabetic patients wearing extra depth shoes and insoles should have them replaced yearly. Lastly, get help for foot problems early. Self care is appropriate for some foot issues, but anything that does not improve quickly with self care should be evaluated by an expert early. Don’t let small problems turn into big problems down the road.