Everything You Need to Know About Foot Care
Foot care is an integral part of your overall health and wellness. Our feet are a complex network comprised of various muscles, bones, nerves, and blood vessels; over 20 bones and more than 100 tendons in each foot alone.
All these components come together to make our feet dynamic organs that assist with everyday life, from pushing off the ground while walking or running to climbing stairs or standing for long periods on your feet.
In addition to helping you get through your day, healthy feet are also an indication of good overall health. However, if neglected or ignored, they can be prone to infection, bruising, blisters, calluses, bunions, corns, and other skin irritations that can impact your ability to walk comfortably. Left untreated for a prolonged time, it can even lead to permanent disability in some cases.
The many small bones, tendons, and nerves within the foot provide great agility, balance, and strength. However, given the complexity of the foot’s design and its exposure to so much stress in everyday life, it is no surprise that it also remains prone to many problems.
Fortunately, there are many measures that a podiatrist in Miami, like members of our team, the Southernmost Foot & Ankle Specialists, can take as a proactive step towards keeping the feet healthy and happy from infancy through old age.
The Importance of Foot Care
The feet take significant abuse as we go about our typical day-to-day activities. This onslaught includes standing for long periods, walking on hard surfaces like concrete or tile, and wearing shoes with little or no support. These all take their toll on our feet over time.
When we look at additional factors like obesity, diabetes, arthritis, old injuries, and other risk factors, we can see why there are so many types of foot conditions.
The best way to prevent foot problems is by practicing good foot care and following these tips to keep your feet healthy. With a few precautions, patients can reduce the risk of developing common problems like:
Foot care is paramount to a patient’s physical and emotional health. Untreated foot conditions can lead to issues like infections, skin breakdown (including gangrene), joint degeneration, swelling, and excess skin. These conditions can cause immense pain, make walking difficult, leave a patient feeling very self-conscious, lead to further complications and even increase the risk of early death.
It is also important to note that foot conditions sometimes relate to a patient’s mood and mental state. For example, poor foot care can cause patients to become very anxious or put them in a state of depression. Under these circumstances, visiting a podiatrist in Miami is vital for the best possible outcome.
Foot Conditions and Problems
Foot conditions range from minor to extremely serious. Here are some of the most common foot conditions. If a patient or their loved one experience any of these symptoms, seeing a podiatrist in Miami right away to rule out more serious conditions is imperative.
Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails occur when the nail’s corner grows into the surrounding skin. This condition can cause pain, redness, and infection.
Athlete’s Foot
Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection of the skin between the toes. It causes itching, redness, scaling, and sometimes blisters.
Calluses
Calluses are hardened patches of skin caused by friction, pressure, or repetitive motion. They often develop on the feet, knees, or hands.
Corns
Corns are small, hard lumps that develop on the skin. They are often yellow or pink.
Podiatrist in Miami | Southernmost Foot & Ankle Specialists
Amazingly, the human foot has only 26 bones – less than any other body part! During aging, the skin dries out, becomes thinner, and becomes less elastic. It also loses its ability to retain its natural oils, leading to dry, cracked, and painful skin. Dry skin can also be more susceptible to infections.
Because of these changes, keeping the skin on your feet healthy is important. You can keep them hydrated, moisturized, and clean with daily foot scrubs. It is also important that you wear comfortable, supportive footwear that allows your feet to breathe. Doing so can help prevent foot pain, blisters, and ingrown toenails.
Our team from the Southernmost Foot & Ankle Specialists works hard to ensure the optimal lower body health of the South Florida community and beyond. To learn more about our podiatrist team and how we can assist you, reach out to us today!
Our state-of-the-art facilities, fracture experts, and sports medicine specialists offer digital X-rays and laser treatments for pain and other conditions. We also offer the latest in treatment of spider veins, wound care, and other sports medicine injuries.
