4 Easy Tasks to Improve Your Foot Health
In April, here’s something unique to put on your to-do list: Celebrate Foot Health Awareness Month! It’s not a huge commitment, and we promise you’ll be happy in the long run – and so will your feet. Pick any four days this month and tackle these easy foot health awareness tasks:
Day 1: Examine your feet. Does anything hurt? Can you sense the touch, or is there numbness when you touch your feet? Are your heels smooth and supple or dry and cracked? Do you have toes that bend or curl abnormally? What about your skin – are there any new growths? Take this day to know what’s normal for your feet and what might need medical attention.
Day 2: Change your foot care routine. Wash your feet with soap and moisturize them daily, applying thick cream to those cracked heels if you found them on Day 1. Make sure you’re trimming your toenails correctly to avoid ingrown toenails.
Day 3: Consider the age and fit of your shoes. Dozens of foot problems are traced back to shoes that either a). don’t fit well, or b). should have been thrown in the trash long ago. Shoes wear out after a time and no longer give your feet the support they need. Replace shoes with worn heels, cracks, or tears. Measure your feet on Day 3 – you may be surprised to learn that your adult feet don’t always stay the same size.
Day 4: Commit – or recommit – to a healthy lifestyle. “Eat right and exercise” is excellent advice for maintaining good health. Your feet benefit from good nutrition. Staying at a healthy weight prevents foot problems such as flat feet, plantar fasciitis, and complications of diabetes.
You might find you’ve got a foot issue on Day 1. Or your newfound awareness of foot health might signal a problem down the road. Whenever you have foot pain or concerns, contact our experienced podiatric surgeons, Dr. Craig B. Frey, Dr. Megan L. Oltmann, and Dr. Jim Swienconek. We diagnose and treat all problems of the feet and ankles. Call Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland in Solon, Ohio at, (440) 903-1041 or contact us online to schedule a consultation. We offer a modern office with the latest technology for podiatric patients in Portage, Geauga, Cuyahoga, and Summit Counties, proudly serving our patients from Solon, Aurora, Bedford, Chagrin Falls, Hudson, Macedonia, and Twinsburg.
