Foot and ankle surgeon Dr William Edwards says “we rarely appreciate how important they are. We tend to stick them in shoes and forget about them.”
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October 1 to 31 is Foot Health Month, so now is the time to pay your feet some deserved attention.
GENERAL CARE
For most people general care is pretty straightforward; clean them regularly, dry them properly, cut nails straight across, ensure footwear fits properly, and don’t ignore niggling injuries.
However, as we age, it can get more difficult to look after our feet. Bending to them is more challenging, and seeing them in detail can also fade. Dead nerves and poor blood supply also means the feeling in our feet fades, so we don’t notice minor injuries as easily.
Also check on any older persons in your life to make sure theirs are also being cared for properly, and regularly. Podiatrists are quite willing to cut nails and otherwise check the maintenance of feet for people who now find it too difficult to do this themselves.
DIABETIC CARE
A podiatrist can usually detect the onset of diabetes earlier than any other practitioner. A startling number of people have a toe, foot or leg amputated as a result of poor management of their diabetes, and it’s often a downward spiral.
“There is extra pressure on the remaining foot” says Dr Edwards, so more than half of those amputees would need to have the other one removed within five years.
However, with vigilance from their practitioners says Dr Edwards, more diabetics can keep both their feet.
FOOTWEAR THAT FITS
For the sake of the feet, the shoes need to be wide enough around the toes to avoid putting undue pressure on them. That goes for heels too, and don’t stand on them for hours on end.
Dr Edwards suggested you could wear the heels for the grand entrance to a party or for a short meeting, but slip on something more comfortable for the rest of the time.
Sports shoes meanwhile, should be discarded at regular intervals. “They lose elasticity and their cushioning effect” because “the rubber deteriorates over time,” he says. As a guide, Dr Edwards replaces his every six to nine months.
MANAGING INJURIES
At the time of injury, Dr Edwards says it’s important to apply normal first aid, such as ice. The majority of these minor injuries will then heal as expected.