It’s important to take care of your feet, but why is it so important? Most of us don’t pay much attention to our feet unless a problem develops, which means we’re not always proactive in caring for our feet. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at some of the problems that can develop if you don’t take care of your feet as you age.
The Importance Of Regular Foot Care
If you only pay attention to your feet when they hurt, you may be setting them up for failure or missing signs of a problem on the horizon. Here’s a look at some of the issues you can run into if you don’t regularly examine, care for and strengthen your feet.
1. Slow-Developing Bone Changes – If you’re not paying attention to any changes to your feet, it may be too late to effectively treat them as they inevitably become symptomatic and cause problems. We’re talking about conditions like:
- Bunions
- Hammer toe
- Claw Toe
- Fallen aches
Regularly examine your feet to see if there are any visible changes to its normal structure. Talk to a foot specialist about any changes you’ve noticed, even if they are not painful at the moment.
2. Infections – It’s also important to regularly wash your feet and keep them clean, otherwise bacteria or fungi can lead to infections and other annoying foot issues. You also want to be mindful about how you cut your toenails so as not to put yourself at a heightened risk for an ingrown toenail, which can increase your risk of an infection. Keeping your feet clean can help to reduce your risk of Athlete’s foot or other foot-related infections.
3. Injuries – Not all foot injuries can be prevented, but it’s how you care for them after that can make all the difference. Untreated foot injuries like ankle sprains or Achilles tendonitis can linger and turn into chronic discomfort, or worse, they can put you at risk for more severe injuries. Untreated ankle sprains can put you at risk for more sprains or even a fracture, whereas unaddressed Achilles tendonitis could lead to a full Achilles tear if you keep trying to push through the discomfort with your normal activities.
4. Arthritis – Arthritis is one of the most common health conditions that plagues older adults, and unfortunately it cannot be reversed once it has set in. You can work to prevent arthritis or slow its progress, but you’re not going to be able to turn back the clock once arthritis has developed. You can work to prevent arthritis by regularly exercising, maintaining a healthy diet and living an active lifestyle that will keep your joints strong.
If you don’t take care of your feet, you might run into all of these problems and more, and that can lead to a visit with Dr. Silverman and the team at Silverman Ankle & Foot. Don’t get us wrong, we love helping patients find relief from their pain, but we’d prefer your feet remained strong and healthy without our help. If you need assistance overcoming a foot injury or a new pain in your ankle, reach out to Dr. Silverman and his team today at (952) 224-2277.
