In our lives, the feet are the most neglected part of the body bearing the whole body weight but still suffer from continuous pressure and strain. Not paying attention to foot health could result in almost anything from painful afflictions such as bunions and plantar fasciitis to the most serious ones like diabetic foot complications.
Podiatrists who are health care professionals specializing in foot care are gaining popularity because of their fundamental role in preventing foot health problems. Here in this guide, we are going to highlight four crucial guidelines, as per podiatrists, to keep your feet in good health.
Choose the Right Footwear
The ultimate point is using the right footwear to ensure foot health. Shoes that are wrong in size affect other parts of the feet, thus causing blisters, corns, and bunions. For the health of your feet, choose shoes that are designed to properly provide support, cushioning, and space allowing toe movement. Preferably avoid high heels and low-toe box shoes.
Otherwise, it will increase the risk of getting foot diseases. If you don’t know what kind of footwear is best for you, see a podiatry for some instructions that are more customized for you.
Practice Good Hygiene
Do not neglect to take care of your feet. Any infection or poor health of the feet can result due to neglect. Just make sure to wash your feet with soap every time followed by thorough drying. Cut toenails across straight to decrease the risk of ingrown toenails. However, make sure you do not cut them too short though. Twofold moisturizing of your feet each day will eliminate the threat of dryness and cracking. However, be cautious while rubbing lotion in between your toes because it may create a humid and incubative environment for fungal toxins.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Besides its appearance, the high load on your feet puts added pressure on the feet increasing the risk of pain in the feet, arthritis, and other musculoskeletal problems. The feet are the most neglected areas of the body especially when people are trying to lose weight. When you lose weight, you can reduce the strain on your feet and lower the risk of foot-related complications.
As part of your lifestyle, bring into use activities that require physical exertion and a balanced diet to attain good shape. Weight control must be reviewed, taking into account the input of a healthcare practitioner that may include a podiatrist for individualized advice and support.
Schedule Regular Foot Checkups
Routine foot checkup with a podiatrist is a vital component of achieving decent foot health. You should get this done once you have issues such as diabetes or arthritis. If you visit a doctor who specializes in this domain, he/she may be able to check the health condition of your feet. Early detection of any problems is always good and the doctor can also recommend personalized treatment and prevention means.
You don’t necessarily have to schedule the foot exams if you don’t have any particular concerns, but your feet may need to be examined on an annual or bi-annual basis to make sure that your feet stay healthy and problem-free.