Foot problems can crop up with little to no warning so making a daily foot check plays an important role in early diagnosis and prompt treatment. This is especially important for the elderly and those have systemic conditions that increase susceptibility to lower limb amputation such as diabetes, vascular disease, or rheumatological disease. If you are unable to reach your feet for a thorough inspection, then using a mirror under the foot is an alternative to reaching down.
Foot Health Tips
Tips for maintaining optimal foot health
1. Check your feet daily
2. Rotate your shoes
Like our feet, our shoes need a break. By rotating our footwear on a daily basis we allow the materials of the shoe to return to their pre-use state. When wearing the same shoe every day, the shoes materials do not rest and therefore wear out much faster than if they were rotated. When footwear wears out, the materials fail to provide the support they were originally designed for and will require premature changing.
3. Change your shoes in a timely manner
All footwear has a limited life span. Typically, this is around 6 months under conditions of heavy use and around 12 months for light to moderate use. Materials in footwear can typically continue to support you well but can also degrade with external factors such as temperature and general daily use so you can help maintain longevity of your footwear through proper storage.
4. Understand your foot risk status
Foot risk status is given when you have been examined for foot health problems. These classifications allow podiatrists to understand your risk status of potential complications to the lower limb based on your vascular, neurological, and musculoskeletal status. Patients with systemic conditions such as diabetic and rheumatoid arthritis should be checked once a year or more, depending on the risk status of their foot, as they are at a larger risk of developing wounds, infection and subsequent amputations.
5. Moisturise your feet daily
Soft, subtle and hydrated skin is not a vanity issue when it comes to the feet, it is vital for ensuring optimum foot health from the skin inwards. Dry skin makes a person more prone to cracks and wounds which serve as portals of entry for infection. Moisturising the skin daily will help to keep the first line of defence intact, allowing the skin barrier to perform its role of preventing infections.
6. Treat foot and leg problems early
Procrastination can be potentially injurious or even deadly when we are talking about the foot. Injuries, pain, and infection should be addressed promptly. Leaving problems without due attention can often result in them worsening or festering. It is advisable to seek professional help if problems arise.
7. Rest when injured
Walking it off is a common but inappropriate response for foot and ankle injuries. It is untrue if you are able to walk after an injury, the injury must not have been too bad. With any injury to the foot, RICE is advised (rest, ice, compression, elevation) and to seek professional advice as soon as possible to ensure the injury is not severe. Most injuries require offloading for a period of time depending on the structure damaged.
8. Manage your nails
Home nail care is vital for ensuring healthy growth of the nail and normal tissue surrounding the nails. Weekly nail inspections with filing and trimming are advisable. Keeping your nails shorter with a slightly rounded border is most helpful for avoiding infections and preventing nail spikes from growing into the surrounding flesh.
9. Avoid using acid-based products
Acid based products such as salicylic acid or corn plasters may look like an easy and quick fix to a pesky foot problem but podiatrists often have to rectify the issues caused by their use. Patients with systemic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes are at an increased risk of complications from the use of such products. Acid macerates and destroys both healthy and unhealthy tissue on the feet making it a highly risky foot product.
10. Don’t be shy about your feet
Many people are embarrassed by particular body parts and the feet are not an exception to this. Hiding a foot problem can risk your life if the condition is severe enough. It is best to show your feet to your podiatrist, they will likely have a solution to ensure your embarrassment is eliminated.