Celebrating National Foot Health Awareness Month
At Goldsmith Podiatry, we love April because it’s National Foot Health Awareness Month and a great chance for us to help our Manhattan patients step up to healthier foot habits. So often our feet get taken for granted—until they aren’t working the way they’re supposed to. There are many simple and even fun ways to prevent common foot problems that you might not expect. Below are some suggestions for observing National Foot Health Awareness Month:
Go Shopping—for shoes that is! Shoes have a lifespan. Even if you don’t see obvious signs of wear such as worn-down soles, stretched out heel counters or broken stitching the interior components of shoes break down over time and can lead to foot pain and injury. This is true for both athletic, everyday styles and dress shoes. A few tips to keep in mind:
You don’t have to forgo fashion but focus on function. Choose shoes that are well made with good arch support. Fortunately, many manufacturers have become more conscious about producing shoes that look great and don’t harm your feet. Avoid high, spiky heels with pointy toe boxes as these can exacerbate problems like bunions and hammertoes.
Shop late in the day—that’s when feet are at their largest.
Get your feet professionally measured. Shoe size can change as you age and/or if you’ve gained a significant amount of weight.
Try an Exotic New Salad—you may be wondering how this will help your feet, but a nutritious diet that helps you maintain an appropriate weight is a key factor in preventing many common foot problems such as gout, toe deformities, heel pain and sesamoiditis. Experiment with new vegetables and fruits and try out cuisines like Mediterranean and Asian that use healthy ingredients and methods of preparing food.
Take a Hike—or try a dance class or rediscover your bike. Being physically active is another great way to protect your podiatric health. Regular exercise keeps feet flexible and improves circulation. It’s also a helpful tool in reducing your risk of conditions such as diabetes and peripheral arterial disease that can result in harm to your feet.
Listen to Your Feet—inspect your feet regularly for changes and unusual symptoms. If you experience pain, numbness or burning don’t wait—make an appointment at our Upper West Side office by calling 212-877-1002 so that our podiatrists, Dr. Howard Goldsmith, Dr. Rosanna Troia, and Dr. Kristina T. Ruff can diagnose and treat any podiatric issues before they become serious.