Good Foot Health Isn’t About Luck

Lance Silverman, MD — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 17:43:17 +0000

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! We hope you find a little luck today and have a good time celebrating the holiday. Speaking of luck, it’s important to remember that good foot and ankle health doesn’t happen by accident! In today’s blog, we explain why having good foot health isn’t just a matter of luck.

Foot Health – Luck Has Nothing To Do With It

If you want to have great foot health, you need to be smart in how you protect and strengthen your feet. Here are a number of ways to protect your feet and keep them healthy and strong.

Regular Exercise – Regular exercise is great for your feet and your whole body, just make sure you’re not overloading your feet in the process. Vary your exercise routine so that it’s not always a high-impact activity for your feet. Bike, swim or do a weightlifting routine instead of always just going for a run.

Wash Them Regularly – Take a couple seconds to really scrub your feet each time you’re in the shower. Keeping them clean can help to prevent Athlete’s foot and other infections.

Actively Treat Injuries – If you roll your ankle or break your toe, don’t just go ahead with your day like normal. Rest the area and then help it recover by doing some range of motion and physical therapy exercises.

Wear The Right Shoes – If you’re not wearing the right shoes for the occasion, pressure can be exerted on your toes or your arch may not be adequately supported, leading to problems like bunions, hammer toes and fallen arches. Choose comfort over style in shoes that you’ll be wearing frequently.

Cross Train – If you’re an athlete, don’t just do sport-specific exercises, because these repetitive exercises can be hard on your feet and lead to some muscle groups that are overdeveloped and others that are underdeveloped. You can benefit from varying your training routine even if you only play one sport.

Healthy Diet – Make sure your diet is made up primarily of healthy choices that are rich in vitamins and nutrients to help keep all the bones in your feet strong.

Manage Your Weight – Your feet bear the stress of your weight, so by shedding a few pounds, you’ll be taking pressure off your feet. If you’re overweight, work to lose a few pounds so that your feet don’t have to handle as much stress.

Hydrate – When you’re hydrated, your blood vessels are more open, which helps to ensure you have good circulation. Since your feet are the furthest thing from your heart, they need all the circulation help they can get! Stay hydrated and make it easier for blood to flow throughout your body.

Don’t Smoke – Smoking damages blood vessels and can decrease healthy blood circulation, so kick the habit if you want improved foot health.

See A Specialist – Finally if you’re dealing with a new or chronic pain in your foot, reach out to a foot specialist like Dr. Silverman. A chronic foot condition is more likely to get worse unless it’s actively treated, so get a diagnosis and an individualized treatment plan from a specialist to put an end to your foot pain!

The post Good Foot Health Isn’t About Luck appeared first on Lance Silverman, MD - Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Surgeon.

10 Tips For Healthy Feet This Holiday Season

Lance Silverman, MD — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 18:08:37 +0000

Christmas is almost here, and if you want the season to be merry and bright for your feet, you have to be mindful about how you protect and care for them throughout the holidays. In today’s blog, we share 10 tips for keeping your feet healthy this holiday season.

Keeping Your Feet Jolly This Christmas

If you keep these tips in mind and are a little proactive in how you approach the holiday season, we’re confident that you’ll have a great chance of keeping your feet healthy.

1. Right Shoes For The Job – If you’re going to be out in snow and ice, make sure you have durable weather-resistant boots that have good tread on the bottom to help avoid a slip and fall injury. Similarly, don’t go holiday shopping at the mall in high heels. Wear the right shoes for the job.

2. Moisturize – Moisturizing can help to prevent dry and cracked feet. For more tips on how to prevent cracked skin this winter, check out this blog piece.

3. Limit Sweets And Alcohol – Excess sugar and alcohol can be a recipe for a gout flareup, so make sure that you eat and drink in moderation this holiday season. That can be harder to do if Christmas candy or holiday spirits are plentiful, but remember that overindulging can be hard on your feet.

4. Warm And Dry – Avoid frostbite or other winter-related foot issues by working to keep your feet warm and dry when you’re out and about. Swap out any shoes that have holes, and keep an extra pair of dry socks handy in case your socks get damp.

5. Take Breaks – Be sure to give your feet a break this holiday season. Don’t go out for a marathon shopping session without taking some breaks to get off your feet. Get off your feet this season if they start to hurt.

6. Keep Exercising – Don’t get out of your normal exercise routine just because you’re starting to get busy with the holidays. Stick with your exercise routine to help keep your feet and whole body healthy.

7. Hydrate – Drink plenty of water to help improve circulation to your extremities so that your feet can get a healthy amount of oxygenated blood.

8. Elevate – After a long day on your feet, put your feet up and let them relax. Elevating your feet can help limit swelling or fluid retention, which is especially important if you deal with diabetes or a circulatory issue.

9. Watch Where You Step – Not only does it pay to watch where you step so that you don’t land on one of your son’s new LEGO bricks, but being deliberate with your steps can help you avoid snow and ice that could contribute to a fall. Put down the phone and pay attention to where you’re stepping if there are hazards to account for.

10. See A Specialist – Finally, if you’re dealing with foot or ankle pain this winter and it just won’t go away, connect with a foot and ankle specialist like Dr. Silverman. He’ll help provide you with a specific diagnosis and set you up with an individualized treatment plan.

The post 10 Tips For Healthy Feet This Holiday Season appeared first on Lance Silverman, MD - Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Surgeon.

ankle health Archives - Lance Silverman, MD - Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Surgeon

Good Foot Health Isn’t About Luck

Foot Health – Luck Has Nothing To Do With It

10 Tips For Healthy Feet This Holiday Season

Keeping Your Feet Jolly This Christmas