Oh, Feet—How Do I Love Thee?

At Goldsmith Podiatry, we’d like to remind our Manhattan patients about some of the amazing feats of your feet:

• Each foot contains 26 bones, 30 joints, and over 100 muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

• The average person’s feet enable them to walk approximately 115,000 miles throughout their lifetime—that’s the equivalent of about 5 trips around the globe!

• When you run, your feet bear the pressure of up to 3 times the weight of your entire body.

Now that you’ve taken a moment to recognize the hard work your feet do every day, we’d like to encourage you to recognize National I Love My Feet Day, which occurs each year on August 17th. Consider showing your feet your appreciation with one of these feet treats:

Put ‘Em Up—Elevating feet at the end of the day (or even better at regular points throughout your day) helps decrease swelling and foot pain and improve circulation. Plus, it gives your feet a much-needed rest.

Enjoy a Soak—Soaking feet in a tub of warm water can be relaxing and mood-changing. Try a few drops of lavender essential oil to promote tranquility; a few squirts of lemon juice to energize. Using Epsom salts can help relieve foot pain.

Go Shoe Shopping—Wearing a good quality pair of shoes that fit correctly is one of the best preventive measures you can take to protect your feet from a wide range of common podiatric problems, including plantar fasciitis, bunions, and flat feet. Get your feet professionally measured and look for a pair with good arch support and a heel 2 inches or lower.

Seek Relief for Foot Pain Promptly—Putting off getting foot discomfort evaluated nearly always leads to a worse condition. When your feet hurt, it can alter the way you walk and lead to a fall too. Contact our Upper West Side office by calling 212-877-1002. Our podiatrist, Dr. Howard Goldsmith and Dr. Rosanna Troia will examine your feet to find the source of your discomfort and prescribe the correct treatment to bring you relief.