A study released by the American Podiatric Medical Association paints a grim picture of how Americans manage foot discomfort when it arises.
According to the APMA’s survey of over 1,000 patients, of the 77 percent of patients who reported experiencing foot pain, only a third of those said they would seek out a podiatrist to treat the issue. That’s a shame, because effective treatment was often easy to come by when podiatric treatment was pursued. Of the patients that sought out a podiatrist, 88 percent reported a quick diagnosis and 76 percent received treatment that eliminated the problem.
“It’s not surprising to see how many people are affected by foot pain, when survey results show that we view our feet as the least important body part in terms of our overall health and wellbeing,” said AMPA President Frank Spinosa. “Our feet are literally and figuratively the furthest things from our minds.”
Caring For Our Feet
Digging deeper into the study, researchers found that half of the participants with foot pain said that their pain was hindering their ability to talk, exercise, play with their grandchildren or perform other necessary daily activities. That means that foot pain has become a daily struggle, yet the majority of patients still opt not to seek out professional care! Answers are closer than many realize, and oftentimes all you need to do is take that first step and connect with a doctor to get set up with an official diagnosis and treatment plan.
We understand that nobody wants to be slowed by foot pain, but that doesn’t mean that the best thing to do is power through it and hope it goes away on its own. As we’ve talked about many times on this blog, most foot conditions are much more likely to get worse instead of improving if you just ignore the problem. Moreover, proactive treatment is likely much simpler than your realize. A couple small adjustments to your daily routine, switching to more supportive shoes and performing a short physical therapy routine from the comfort of your home can do wonders for your foot health.
So although your feet are physically the furthest thing from your mind, don’t lose focus on the best way to treat foot and ankle injuries when they do develop. A concentrated and proactive care program is typically best, and if you need help developing a specific treatment plan for your unique issue, connect with a professional in the area. Dr. Silverman has been helping patients put their foot pain behind them for decades and he can do the same for you! Don’t wait any longer, seek out care for your ailing feet today.