Sometimes we do things that we think are good for our feet, but in reality, these actions could put us at risk of developing a painful foot issue. We’re here to help set the record straight, which is why we’re using today’s blog to showcase three things that you might be doing to your feet that you think are good, but aren’t.
Are You Unknowingly Hurting Your Feet?
If you’re doing any of these actions, you may be unknowingly putting your feet at risk. Here’s a look at three things that many people do to their feet that actually may be increasing their risk of pain or injury.
Rounding Their Toenails – Our toes have a rounded appearance at the top, and many people like to cut their toenails in a similar rounded fashion, but this isn’t an ideal way to cut your nails. If you round the edges or your toenails, you’re increasing your risk of of developing ingrown toenails. These rounded edges are more likely to push into the side of your toe or grow back unevenly, increasing your ingrown toenail risk. Cut your toenails straight across instead of rounding the edges.
Wearing New Shoes Like Old Shoes – Oftentimes when we buy a new pair of shoes, we throw the old pair away or store them in the back of the closet and wear the heck out of our new shoes. Every shoe fits a little different, and it takes some time for our feet to get used to a new pair. If you have a new pair of work boots or running shoes, don’t try to work a full day or go for a normal run in them to break them in. Instead, gradually break them in over the course of a few days or a full week. Your foot will be supported in a new way and muscle groups will stressed differently in a new pair of shoes, so don’t just assume you’re doing the right thing by ditching the old pair and wearing a new pair full time. Slowly break them in.
Walking Off Foot Pain – You may have tried to “walk off” a foot injury in the past, but that’s typically not a smart idea. For mild to moderate injuries, walking it off may give a sense of relief simply because injuries tend to be most painful at the moment of injury, and then our bodies quickly work to calm these pain signals as best they can. Your rolled ankle isn’t feeling better because you’re walking it off, your body is just moving past the shock of the overly stressed ligaments. In fact, trying push through discomfort or walk on an injured ankle can continue to strain an area when it’s in a weakened state, putting it a a higher risk of injury. Give yourself ample time to recover with rest and active treatments like physical therapy and stretching routines, don’t just try to walk off a foot injury.
If you keep these tips in mind and you reach out to a foot or ankle specialist when a new or chronic foot issue develops, we’re confident that you’ll be reducing your risk of long-term foot problems. For more information, or for help with a foot or ankle issue, reach out to Dr. Silverman and the team at Silverman Ankle & Foot today at (952) 224-8500.
