Most foot complaints can be prevented with good hygiene and common sense. Foot problems caught in their early stages can usually be resolved with painless, non-invasive medical care. A Findlay podiatrist offers the following advice for maintaining foot and ankle health.
Wear the appropriate shoe for the activity. Invest in protective footwear before participating in a sport or trying out a new form of exercise. There is no such thing as an all-purpose athletic shoe. Footwear designed with the right kind of ankle support, cushioning and tread can help to prevent injuries such as plantar fasciitis, tendonitis and sprained ligaments.
Reserve glamorous fashion footwear for special occasions. Narrow shoes with high heels and pointed toes are a common cause of blisters, calluses, metatarsalgia and bunions. Drinking and dancing in heels over two inches high greatly increases the risk of ankle injuries. When going out in trendy stilettos, bring along a pair of comfortable flats.
Trim toenails straight across the top. Use a nail clipper and do not cut below the nail bed or down the sides. Ingrown toenails often result from attempts to trim the nail into a rounded shape. Fungal infections can set in if the nail is cut too short. Diabetics and people with poor circulation should have their toenails cut by a health care professional.
Regularly check your feet for any abnormalities. A fungal infection called onychomycosis leads to thickening, discoloring and splitting of the toenails. Athlete's foot produces moist, peeling skin between the toes or dry, flaky skin on the soles. Bunions and corns appear as red swollen lumps on the sides of the feet or tops of the toes.
The Findlay podiatrist recommends that people with foot or ankle problems seek medical attention at the earliest opportunity. Home remedies are rarely successful and could even exacerbate the condition. Seemingly minor injuries or infections can progress into serious foot disorders.
Wear the appropriate shoe for the activity. Invest in protective footwear before participating in a sport or trying out a new form of exercise. There is no such thing as an all-purpose athletic shoe. Footwear designed with the right kind of ankle support, cushioning and tread can help to prevent injuries such as plantar fasciitis, tendonitis and sprained ligaments.
Reserve glamorous fashion footwear for special occasions. Narrow shoes with high heels and pointed toes are a common cause of blisters, calluses, metatarsalgia and bunions. Drinking and dancing in heels over two inches high greatly increases the risk of ankle injuries. When going out in trendy stilettos, bring along a pair of comfortable flats.
Trim toenails straight across the top. Use a nail clipper and do not cut below the nail bed or down the sides. Ingrown toenails often result from attempts to trim the nail into a rounded shape. Fungal infections can set in if the nail is cut too short. Diabetics and people with poor circulation should have their toenails cut by a health care professional.
Regularly check your feet for any abnormalities. A fungal infection called onychomycosis leads to thickening, discoloring and splitting of the toenails. Athlete's foot produces moist, peeling skin between the toes or dry, flaky skin on the soles. Bunions and corns appear as red swollen lumps on the sides of the feet or tops of the toes.
The Findlay podiatrist recommends that people with foot or ankle problems seek medical attention at the earliest opportunity. Home remedies are rarely successful and could even exacerbate the condition. Seemingly minor injuries or infections can progress into serious foot disorders.
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