How Do You Love Your Feet?

August 17th is National I Love My Feet Day, and we at Goldsmith Podiatry cannot let that pass by without putting in a plug for your feet. We find most patients take their feet for granted until they stop working the way they are supposed to. Your feet are your main mode of transportation and what allows you to do nearly every daily activity, including standing, walking, running, swimming, reaching, squatting, dancing, etc. We urge our patients to take a moment to appreciate the value of your feet and to commit to being proactive in their health and care. Below are some suggestions.

Lose Some Weight—your feet carry the weight of your entire body. If you weigh more than you should, that means you are putting excess pressure and stress on your feet, ankles, and knees. Even the loss of five pounds can go a long way to relieving strain on your lower extremities.

Buy New Shoes—perhaps the single biggest way to show care to your feet is by purchasing high-quality footwear that fits properly. Avoid overly high heels and styles with narrow toe boxes that squeeze toes together. These can increase your risk of bunions, hammertoes and ingrown toenails. Choose materials that breathe and allow air to circulate around your feet to reduce the chances for a fungal infection. Get your feet measured periodically and always try on shoes before purchasing them.

Practice Podiatric Safety—some simple ways to keep your feet infection and injury free include:

• Don’t share socks, shoes and other items that touch another person’s feet.

• Throw out shoes that are stretched and worn out to avoid fall injuries.

• Wear the right shoes for the activity you are doing.

• Avoid going barefoot.

Inspect Your Feet Regularly—as you wash your feet, look them over thoroughly. If you notice anything suspicious or unusual such as growths, bruising, rashes, toe deformities or skin or nail changes, contact our Upper West Side office by calling: (212) 877-1002 so that our podiatrists, Dr. Howard Goldsmith and Dr. Rosanna Troia can evaluate the condition of your feet.