5 Tips for Keeping Your Feet Healthy

Caring for your feet helps improve your overall well-being and mobility. If you have concerns about your feet, meet with a podiatrist at a foot and ankle institute to learn more about their conservative and surgical treatments. At Horizon Foot & Ankle Institute, we assess and treat conditions of the foot, ankle, and lower leg to improve your quality of life. Here are five tips for keeping your feet healthy and identifying risk factors:

1. Wear Proper Footwear

High-quality footwear provides support for your arches, heels, and ankles, minimizing the risk of injuries like strains and sprains. Good shoes also help you maintain good posture and balance without putting extra pressure on specific points of your feet. Signs that your shoes might be impacting your foot health include uneven wear patterns, foot inflammation, blister development, and plantar fasciitis. To reduce these effects, replace worn shoes and look for features like cushioned soles, arch support, wide-toe boxes, and breathable materials.

Horizon Foot & Ankle Institute offers custom foot orthotics that can be inserted into various footwear to improve your comfort and foot health. These devices work by realigning the structure of the foot and leg, relieving excess strain on muscles and connective tissues.

2. Maintain Foot Hygiene

Maintaining the cleanliness of your feet protects you from issues like infections, fungus, ingrown toenails, and more. Wash your feet daily with antibacterial soap and wash your socks regularly to prevent the spread of bacteria and other contaminants. Dry your feet completely and take a break from wearing enclosed shoes to prevent moisture and sweat buildup that could lead to fungal or bacterial growth.

Applying moisturizing products to clean feet maintains the skin’s protective barrier and encourages the healing of minor wounds. Trimming your toenails keeps them from becoming broken or damaged, reducing the risk of developing foot conditions. If you notice unusual skin and nail texture or color, visit our team for an assessment and diagnosis. We may recommend topical creams or oral medications to reduce the severity of fungal infections and other conditions.

3. Engage in Physical Activity

Regular physical activity promotes blood flow throughout the body, including the feet. Good circulation in the feet enables small wounds like blisters, sores, and scrapes to heal more quickly. Engaging in physical activity also strengthens the muscles and connective tissues in your feet and ankles, preventing future injuries.

Performing specific foot exercises may help minimize foot pain and increase flexibility to boost your mobility. If you notice discomfort or pain during physical activity, stop immediately. Examine your feet for signs of injury and schedule an appointment with our team for a comprehensive exam. Pain during walking could indicate an alignment issue, muscle weakness, or foot condition that needs to be treated.

4. Seek Professional Care

Visiting a podiatrist when you have foot health concerns gives you access to treatment options that keep your condition from worsening. After a thorough assessment, podiatrists will diagnose the issue, create a custom treatment plan, and monitor your foot health over time. If your condition worsens or changes, our team will adjust your treatment plan to include more effective approaches, like surgery or prescription medication.

Scheduling yearly appointments with a foot and ankle institute, even if you’re not experiencing pain or other symptoms, allows podiatrists to identify potential issues early on. Proactive foot care prevents minor issues, like hammertoes, corns, or bone spurs, from developing further and disrupting your quality of life.

5. Manage Diabetes Symptoms

Managing your diabetes with the help of your primary care doctor prevents secondary symptoms from affecting your foot health. Common foot conditions related to diabetes include neuropathy, ulcers, and fungal infections. Keeping your blood sugar in a healthy range minimizes the risk of these conditions developing or worsening. Other treatment options for diabetic ulcers and foot pain include removing dead skin, grafting wounds, applying medication, and relieving pressure from the affected area. Some ways to relieve pressure on the feet are by using crutches, braces, or wheelchairs. This allows the ulcer to heal without further irritation.

To prevent severe ulcers, inspect your feet regularly to identify cracked or irritated skin. Treating the skin early keeps the area from becoming infected or developing an ulcer that progresses and affects multiple tissue layers. When you visit Horizon Foot & Ankle Institute, we will examine the ulcer to determine whether it is superficial or causing damage to deeper layers of tissue. This allows us to create a personalized treatment plan or recommend intensive medical interventions.

Visit Our Foot and Ankle Institute

At Horizon Foot & Ankle Institute, we prioritize relieving your symptoms with minimally invasive treatment methods. We can also perform surgical procedures to improve your foot health and restore your mobility and comfort. For minor conditions, we may recommend home remedies and schedule follow-up appointments to assess their effectiveness. Contact our team today to learn more about our foot and ankle services and schedule an appointment.