Caring for your feet prevents future problems
The Greek philosopher Socrates is thought to have coined the phrase “when your feet hurt, you hurt all over.” Of course, it doesn’t take a scholar to know that when your feet hurt, life is miserable.
Most people walk enough in a lifetime to travel around the world at least four times. With that kind of day-to-day reliance on our feet, it is important to have a keen understanding of how not to wear them out.
How the Feet Work
Feet are meant to absorb the impact of our body’s weight. Consisting of 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 tendons, muscles, and ligaments, the feet are one of the most complex parts of the body, which makes them more susceptible to pain and injury.
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, three out of every four people experience some type of serious foot problem in their lifetimes. Timothy Beck, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and foot specialist at Azalea Orthopedics, says the key is to follow preventive measures. “Over time, our feet are constantly stressed and neglected. The problem is that most people do not think about foot care until something goes wrong. Proper foot care, however, can prevent problems from occurring,” he says.
Common Problems, Simple Solutions
Dr. Beck emphasizes the importance of noticing warning signs that a problem exists. “Pain, dry skin, discolored nails, swelling, and redness are all signs that your feet may be in trouble,” he says.
Dr. Beck also explains that as we age, our feet change; by making a few alterations, our feet feel better. “Simple things like making sure you are wearing the correct size shoe make a big impact,” he adds. “I have my patients stand up and trace their feet on a piece of paper with their shoes on and then take their shoes off and trace them. I usually find that the foot is larger than the shoe.”
piece of paper with their shoes on and then take their shoes off and trace them.
I usually find that the foot is larger than the shoe.”
Dr. Beck offers these simple solutions for caring for your feet:
- Don’t wear the same shoe every day; our shoes need to air out.
- Wear pointed-toe and high-heeled shoes only for short periods of time.
- A daily moisturizer can help with dry, callused feet.
- Over-the-counter pain medication is helpful for such conditions as osteoarthritis and gout.
- Shoe inserts and pads are effective at relieving discomfort.
- Stretch the foot when you first wake up and
during the day to help prevent pain. - Many conditions require surgery. If you have tendon tears, bunions, or hammertoes, talk to your physician.
Azalea Orthopedics has two orthopedic surgeons that specialize in foot problems, Timothy Beck, MD, and John Priddy, MD.