Pay More Attention to Your Feet for Better Overall Health

Most people are aware that a visit to a medical professional for a yearly check-up can lead to early diagnosis or prevention of serious problems. However, people haven’t learned that a periodic visit to a podiatrist can also be the key to maintaining health.

For example, did you know that the shape of your feet and the way you walk can affect the stability of your spine and health of your back? A podiatrist can easily evaluate how you walk and the structure of your feet to determine if something as simple as custom orthotics inserted in your shoes can prevent serious problems.

Podiatric training is the same as for medical doctors for the first two years of school. The second two years focus entirely on the feet, making podiatrists more qualified than any other kind of practitioner to deal with your foot problems and to avoid future problems. Many podiatrists also go through three years of residency training. 

It also means that a podiatrist is more likely than any other kind of practitioner to notice small problems that can turn into larger challenges later on.

Twenty-five percent of diabetic patients develop foot problems related to their disease that are caused by a number of factors including poor circulation and nerve damage (neuropathy). The nerve damage can reduce the ability to feel pain, heat, or cold and this often leads to cuts, blisters, or pressure sores due to lack of sensitivity. It these injuries are left untreated, serious complications can result.

Poor circulation contributes to many foot problems including swelling, slow wound healing, dryness of the feet, ulcers, infection, and other conditions.

It is recommended that diabetics, no matter what the current condition of their feet, have regular podiatric examinations to avoid serious complications. The podiatrists at Foot & Ankle Associates have decades of experience dealing with the special needs of diabetics and can guide you through a course of treatment that will keep your feet as healthy as possible.

Proper foot alignment is essential for top performance. For this reasons, professional runners, such as those from Kenya who make their living running, and winning, marathons frequently consult with a podiatrist, such as Dr. William Blake, who has experience with runners and other athletes.

Whether you are an amateur athlete or have hopes of becoming a professional, come in for a foot screening to see if your feet and your sports performance will benefit from orthotics. Specific orthotics are available to match your sport such as golf, skiing, tennis, and soccer.

Very high heels are back in style, and so are the problems they often cause, including corns and calluses, toenail problems, hammertoes, bunions, tight heel cords, “pump bump,” neuromas, joint pain, and stress fractures. All of these conditions are uncomfortable and develop over an extended period time.

If you wear heels over 2” high, it’s smart to have a periodic foot exam to catch problems early and avoid permanent damage to your precious feet.

Call Foot & Ankle associates and ask for a podiatric screening.