Prevention
- Foot pain is not normal. Report foot pain or discomfort to your doctor.
- Inspect feet regularly looking for areas or cuts, corns, calluses, ingrown toenails, redness, swelling or inflammation.
- Wash feet daily. Be sure to dry between the toes.
- Wear athletic shoes that fit you well when you exercise.
- Unless you have a health reason not to, walking is a good form of exercise. Walking contributes to your general health by improving circulation, helping with weight control and promoting well-being.
- Shop for shoes in the afternoon. Your feet tend to swell during the day, and it's best to buy shoes to fit you then.
- Have your feet measured every time you purchase shoes. Have your feet measured while you're standing.
- Try shoes on both feet. Many people have one foot larger than the other. It's best to fit the larger one.
- Don't wear the same pair of shoes every day.
- Avoid wearing high-heels, pointy-toed shoes and other tight shoes.
- Don't walk around barefoot.
- Use sunblock on your feet just as you would on the rest of your body.
- Recognize the signs of ill-fitting shoes. Corns and calluses are caused by friction from skin rubbing against bony areas of the feet.
- Check for excessive wearing of the outsole, loss of support, and the condition of midsole.
- Ingrown toenails can be prevented by trimming toenails straight across, selecting proper shoe style and size, and paying attention to foot pain.
- Trim your toenails straight across with clippers specially designed for the purpose. Leave toenails slightly longer than the tips of your toes.
No one is immune from these injuries, but the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons developed these tips to help reduce your injury risk:
- Warm up before any sports activity, including practice.
- Participate in a conditioning program to build muscle strength.
- Do stretching exercises daily.
- Listen to your body: Limit exercise if you have pain in the foot or ankle.
- Replace athletic shoes as soon as the tread or heel wears out.
- Wear properly fitting athletic, dress and casual shoes.
More on Foot Problems
Preventing Foot Problems
Diabetes and Foot Care
Foot Health
Foot Problems as Symptoms and Signs
Young Feet, Old Feet
Flat Facts About High Heels
In the Encyclopedia:
Athlete's foot
Corns and calluses
Charcot's joints
Clubfoot
Diabetic foot infections
|
