April is National Foot Health Awareness Month. It’s also the time of the year when people begin to trade in their boots for sneakers and sandals.
This month-long initiative helps educate people on how to maintain the health of their feet.
Your feet are complex structures which contain one-quarter of all the bones in your body. Because they’re so complex, they are also prone to a wide variety of issues ranging from ingrown toenails to more complex problems involving nerves, tendons, and broken bones.
To keep your feet healthy during National Foot Health Awareness Month and beyond, here are several ways you can develop healthy habits and keep your feet injury and pain-free.
As the weather warms up, one of the best ways to keep your feet healthy is wearing the right footwear.
There are so many different types and styles of shoes for you to choose from, so how do you find the right pair?
Believe it or not, it’s incredibly common to have one foot that’s slightly larger than the other. If this is the case for you, fit your shoes to your larger foot. For example, if your left foot is a size 7.5, but your right foot is a size 8, opt for shoes that are a size 8.
You don’t want to rely on your shoes stretching out or “breaking them in” as wearing shoes that are too small can often lead to foot conditions like bunions and blisters.
When assessing shoes, make sure you do two things: find the right fit and check your shoes regularly.
Footwear that fits properly is crucial to your foot health.
While footwear trends come and go, there’s one thing that remains constant: it’s best to wear shoes that support your foot’s arch. For example, tennis shoes provide good arch support. Alternatively, you can purchase over-the-counter inserts for other types of shoes to provide additional arch support.
If you find that any of your footwear doesn’t meet these guidelines, it may be time to find new shoes.
Not only do you want to make sure your shoes fit correctly, you’ll also want to check your current shoes regularly.
Although, the lifespan of a pair of shoes depends on how much you walk each day, most shoes get about 500 miles of use before it’s time to say goodbye. To prolong the lifespan of your footwear, cycle through your shoes by wearing different pairs each day.
There are quite a few ways to keep your feet healthy. These guidelines will help you maintain the health of your feet:
Beyond wearing well-fitting footwear, practicing proper hygiene aids in reducing foot-related issues.
Safeguard against injuries and infections by keeping your feet clean and dry. To do this, wash your feet daily with warm water. You can also use a pumice stone to help exfoliate and soften toughened skin from calluses or corns.
Check out some other ways to care for your feet with our blog: 6 Tips to Keep Your Feet Healthy.
According to the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), a podiatrist is “a physician and surgeon who treats the foot, ankle, and related structures of the leg.”
Podiatrists evaluate patients based on their needs and provide appropriate treatment for foot-related issues.
There are a variety of foot disorders and conditions you may experience during your lifetime and their severity ranges from small skin care issues to more significant problems such as ulcers.
It’s important to know that any type of foot pain or ailment is not normal. Consult with a podiatrist to get you back on your feet.
If your foot problems don’t get better, it’s time to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist. Voyage Healthcare has Board Certified Podiatrists who are experts in their field and are ready to help get you back on your feet.
Put your best foot forward this month by reviewing your footwear and caring for your feet. If you have foot pain or an injury, visit a podiatrist today!