A New Year’s Resolution You Can Keep – Take Good Care of Your Feet
If you are like many Americans (almost 50% of us!), you will be making a New Year’s resolution on January 1. The most popular resolutions are to lose weight, exercise more, quit smoking, and manage money better.
However, by mid-January, half of those resolutions have been abandoned!
We have a suggestion for a New Year’s resolution that is easy to keep – take care of your feet! Those hard-working feet will carry you for more than 2 million steps in 2020!
Here are some simple – and economical – steps to take to pamper your feet next year:
- Wash your feet every day in mild soapy water and dry thoroughly – especially between your toes.
- Smooth on a rich foot cream or lotion daily to keep your skin supple.
- Do a closet audit and check your shoes. Do they look worn out? Are any of them too narrow or tight (come on, be honest!). Gift yourself some well-made and well-fitting shoes. Shop for shoes at the end of the day when your feet are largest and always have your feet professionally measured.
- Use footwear that is appropriate for your chosen sport. For example, high-top basketball shoes have extra ankle support to prevent an ankle roll and sprain.
- Treat yourself to regular pedicures – but make sure that your chosen salon is clean and has good sanitation practices. All licenses should be prominently posted and foot baths should be squeaky clean. Make sure that your technician uses tools from a sanitized packet.
- For at-home pedicures, always trim toenails straight across, not rounded at the corners. Cutting the nails incorrectly can lead to ingrown toenails.
- Protect your feet from nail fungus in public areas like pools, spas, locker rooms, and showers. Flip-flops and shower shoes are perfect for this purpose.
Lastly, and most importantly, make an appointment with a foot doctor for a comprehensive check-up. This is especially important for those with diabetes, for whom we recommend a foot evaluation every six months.
We wish all our patients and friends a very Happy New Year and all the best in 2020!
Let Us Know If You Have Any Foot or Ankle Pain
For any type of foot or ankle pain, call us. Foot pain is not normal! If you have pain from bunions or any other foot or ankle condition or have suffered any type of foot injury, please call Dr. Christopher M. Funk, Dr. Bradley A. Whitaker or Dr. Peter C. Merrill at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists. Our professional staff offers expert podiatry services at three Pima County offices: Tucson, Oro Valley and Green Valley. Please call us today at (520) 575-0800 to schedule your appointment.
