As the adage goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” When it comes to your foot health, this is especially true.
It’s much better if you can avoid a foot injury entirely than suffer one and have to get it diagnosed and treated. Recovery, depending on the issue, may be slow and painful.
At Premier Foot & Ankle, we’re not only dedicated to treating your foot conditions and injuries, but we also want to educate you on the steps you can take to steer clear of an injury in the first place.
Our caring team of providers delivers the most advanced care. Since we consider ourselves partners in your care, we’re always ready to address your questions and concerns and provide the latest evidence-based information.
As we go about our daily lives, prevention isn’t often considered when it comes to injuries. Only when a mishap occurs are we suddenly concerned, because we’re in pain and slowed down.
But what if you took a little time to think about habits you could adopt to measurably reduce the likelihood of injuring your foot?
We’ve put together some tips for supporting your foot health so the chances that you’ll experience an unexpected accident are minimized.
Do your shoes fit properly, and are they comfortable? If not, you’re more likely to develop blisters, corns, calluses, and other pesky foot problems that are uncomfortable and can potentially lead to discomfort with movement.
What type of shoes should you wear? Look for styles with a nice, wide toe box and good arch support. If your feet don’t feel crowded and your toes can move around freely, you’re ahead of the game and less likely to develop a problem.
Maintaining a healthy weight reduces stress on your feet. Healthy eating and regular physical activity can help support a weight range that’s easier on your feet.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends getting at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week, or about 30 minutes a day, five days a week.
Speaking of physical activity, you can be kinder to your feet if you prepare for exercising by stretching. Stretching improves flexibility and prepares your muscles and tendons for activity.
It only makes sense that stronger feet are less prone to injury than weaker ones.
Simple exercises can help, including toe curls where you alternate curling your toes downward and upward, stretching your Achilles, and picking up small objects, such as pebbles or marbles, with your toes.
Having better balance improves your overall stability, and it’s good for reducing your risk for foot injury.
You can do simple things to improve your balance, like standing on one foot for half the time you brush your teeth and on the other foot for the second half. Practicing walking sideways also helps.
Be sure to schedule an appointment with us to manage any foot conditions you live with, from bunions to plantar fasciitis, so you can get proper treatment and management for them.
If you live with diabetes, it’s critical to visit us regularly and learn about the safest ways to care for your feet at home between visits.
Heading off a foot injury is always preferable to needing to come to us for care, but if you do experience a foot injury of any type, we’re eager to help.
Feel free to call one of our five convenient Texas locations today or book your appointment online anytime for all of your foot care needs, whether they’re preventive or you need an issue addressed.
