Have you heard of the term “kinetic chain?” It’s an anatomical concept wherein links of body segments—namely your joints, muscles, and the portion of the spine to which they are attached to—have an effect on one another during movements. This means if you have a problem in your foot or ankle, it can ripple toward your knee, hip, and lower back, causing pain in these areas of your body.
This is one of the many reasons you need to take good care of your feet. Below, you’ll find five tips for maintaining the health of your feet to ultimately keep enjoying your freedom to move and do the things that you love.
Tip #1 Avoid Walking Barefoot Especially in Public Places.
If you are going to walk around the gym locker room, or use a public shower area, wear your slippers or shoes, and do not, under any circumstances, share footwear. Walking around barefoot, especially in public places, renders your feet vulnerable to cuts, scrapes, or wounds, and infection.
Tip #2 Keep Your Feet Moisturized.
Apply lotion to your feet to keep them moisturized. Dry skin not only hurts, but it can crack and put you at risk of having an infection. The heel is prone to dryness and cracking, and not all fissures are easily visible to the naked eye.
Tip #3 Wear the Right Shoes.
Wearing properly fitting shoes can help prevent foot injuries, which can affect your gait and posture and, in turn, cause problems in the other structures of your lower extremity.
When buying shoes, make sure to pick a pair that is comfortable, provides adequate arch support, has good traction (to avoid slipping), and has a roomy toe box.
Tip #4 Rotate Your Footwear.
Rotating your shoes helps you engage different muscle groups and give those stressed areas of your lower extremity time to rest.
Changing your shoes every now and then also gives those that you just wore time to dry out thoroughly: sweat-laden shoes are good breeding grounds for fungi and molds.
Tip #5 Know When to See an Orthopedic Doctor.
Never make the mistake of attempting to self-treat foot problems. Any persistent discoloration, redness, and swelling warrants a visit to your orthopedic doctor. Foot problems typically respond to prescription medication or minor in-office procedures.
Letting your orthopedic doctor examine your feet and handle minor foot issues can help prevent these from becoming major ones down the line.
Foot Pain and Injury Treatment in Dover, NJ
If you are suffering from foot pain due to an injury, deformity, or degenerative condition, turn to our orthopedic specialists here at Orthopedic Associates of West Jersey. Our providers have the expertise, extensive experience, and dedication to provide the best treatment outcomes for the entire range of foot and ankle problems, so you couldn’t be in more competent hands!
To schedule an appointment with one of our orthopedic specialists, call our orthopedic practice in Dover at (973) 989-0888 or use our convenient online form.
