Tips for Healthy Feet

• Dr. Bruce Zappan
• October 27, 2017

The average active person can easily walk over 4000 steps per day, so you need to be proactive about your foot health and take steps to keep your feet and ankles strong and flexible for reducing the chances of injury. Good foot care also helps prevent common conditions like athlete’s foot, fungal nail infections, or warts.

Some excellent daily preventative measures you can take to keep your feet healthy include:

• Protecting your feet—Avoid injuries by wearing supportive shoes that are properly fitted. Breathable socks are also functional to prevent moisture buildup.
• Foot strength and flexibility exercises—Add these to your daily exercise routine.
• Daily cleaning—Keep your feet clean to help avoid infections and diseases. Use moisturizer on dry areas, such as the heel. Be sure to keep the area between your toes dry to prevent fungi from growing.
• Toenail trimming—One of the major causes of big toe problems is ingrown toenails that are caused by improper cutting technique. Always cut your nails straight across and not too short so that the corner of the nail doesn’t grow into the adjacent skin.
• Inspect your feet—Look for changes in color or condition to the nails and skin. Yellow nails may indicate a fungal nail infection. If you have any cuts, bruises, or blisters, be sure to treat them promptly to avoid infection.
• For diabetic patients—It’s best to have any wounds, corns, and calluses treated by your foot doctor to avoid causing further complications and possible infection and amputation. A foot specialist can also carefully trim hard to reach nails to avoid ingrown toenail problems.

For any problems you may be experiencing with your feet and ankles, it is important to see a foot specialist to receive the correct care. Bruce B. Zappan, D.P.M., P.C., of Medical Arts Podiatry Associates in Philadelphia, PA is an expert in proper evaluation and recommendations for treatment. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or make an appointment with our office at 215-563-2560.