Many foot complaints are avoidable if people take the right precautions. Those that do develop can often be easily resolved if addressed in their early stages. A Findlay podiatrist offers the following tips to keep feet healthy, attractive and pain-free.
Wear shoes fit for purpose. Before engaging in any new sport or physical activity, invest in appropriate protective footwear. Hiking through rough terrain in running shoes or taking long walks in thin beach sandals can increase your risk for injuries such as sprained ankles, plantar fasciitis and tendonitis.
Reserve glamorous fashion footwear for special occasions. Narrow shoes with high heels and pointed toes are a common cause of blisters, calluses, metatarsalgia and bunions. Drinking and dancing in heels over two inches high greatly increases the risk of ankle injuries. When going out in trendy stilettos, bring along a pair of comfortable flats.
Trim your toenails straight across. Cut the top evenly with a nail clipper, leaving some white nail visible above the bed. Trimming down the sides can lead to ingrown toenails. Cutting toenails too short can make them more vulnerable to fungal infections. Anyone with poor circulation or diabetes should have their toenails cut by a trained health care professional.
Inspect your feet for signs of disease. Thickened, yellowed or crumbling toenails could be caused by a fungal infection called onychomycosis. Moist, cracked skin between the toes or flaky, scaly soles of the feet are symptoms of athlete's foot. Red swellings on the toes or sides of the feet could develop into painful corns or bunions.
The Findlay podiatrist encourages anyone with a suspected foot or ankle problem to seek immediate medical attention. Home remedies are generally ineffective and may even make the condition worse. Minor foot injuries, infections or abnormalities can progress into serious disorders.
Wear shoes fit for purpose. Before engaging in any new sport or physical activity, invest in appropriate protective footwear. Hiking through rough terrain in running shoes or taking long walks in thin beach sandals can increase your risk for injuries such as sprained ankles, plantar fasciitis and tendonitis.
Reserve glamorous fashion footwear for special occasions. Narrow shoes with high heels and pointed toes are a common cause of blisters, calluses, metatarsalgia and bunions. Drinking and dancing in heels over two inches high greatly increases the risk of ankle injuries. When going out in trendy stilettos, bring along a pair of comfortable flats.
Trim your toenails straight across. Cut the top evenly with a nail clipper, leaving some white nail visible above the bed. Trimming down the sides can lead to ingrown toenails. Cutting toenails too short can make them more vulnerable to fungal infections. Anyone with poor circulation or diabetes should have their toenails cut by a trained health care professional.
Inspect your feet for signs of disease. Thickened, yellowed or crumbling toenails could be caused by a fungal infection called onychomycosis. Moist, cracked skin between the toes or flaky, scaly soles of the feet are symptoms of athlete's foot. Red swellings on the toes or sides of the feet could develop into painful corns or bunions.
The Findlay podiatrist encourages anyone with a suspected foot or ankle problem to seek immediate medical attention. Home remedies are generally ineffective and may even make the condition worse. Minor foot injuries, infections or abnormalities can progress into serious disorders.
