Do’s and Don’ts for Good Foot Health

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April is one of our favorite months at Texas Foot Specialists—it’s National Foot Health Awareness Month. There are many ways patients can improve their podiatric health, and the good news is that it doesn’t require a lot of time or effort. Below are some simple do’s and don’ts that can greatly decrease your risk of podiatric disorders.

Do: get in the habit of inspecting your feet regularly and learn to recognize the signs of a potential foot problem. These include:

  • Changes in size, shape or color of your feet or nails

  • Suspicious bruises, moles, growths or lumps

  • Cuts that are not healing in a timely manner

  • Decreased sensation in all or part of your foot

Don’t: put off getting unusual symptoms or pain in your lower extremities checked out. Our podiatrists, Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum, will examine your feet and diagnose the source of your discomfort. The sooner the correct treatment begins, the better the outcome for your feet. Make an appointment at our Sugar Land (281-242-4448), Pasadena (281-991-0600) or Houston office (713-664-6677).

Don’t: use other people’s shoes, socks, nail clippers or any other items that come in contact with someone else’s feet.

Do: keep your feet covered when walking in public places—particularly where it’s moist and warm like public pools, beach bathrooms, gyms and nail salons. The can greatly reduce your risk of getting athlete’s foot and fungal infections.

Do: wear shoes that fit properly. Get your foot measured professionally and avoid styles that have high heels and narrow toe boxes. Spending prolonged amounts of time in styles that squeeze your toes can cause them to become misaligned and lead to bunions, hammertoes and other deformities.

Don’t: smoke. Smoking impedes circulation and makes it difficult for wounds on your feet to heal and your feet to maintain their best health. This is particularly important if you have diabetes.

Do: exercise regularly. Not only will this help your feet maintain flexibility and full range of motion, it will improve overall health and help you maintain an appropriate weight. Excess pounds exacerbate many common foot problems like plantar fasciitis and arthritis.