Cultivating Awareness of Your Foot Health

Your feet are the foundation for everything you do. From standing to walking to running, your life depends on your being able to move through your day free from pain. However, with 26 bones in each foot (that’s over a quarter of the bones in your body!) and hundreds of muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves, your feet are extraordinarily complex anatomical structures, and they are at risk of illness and injury. How can you keep feet healthy and safe?

Here are three tips from James M. McKee, DPM, FACFAS:

1.      Start with a healthy diet. When you maintain a moderate weight and eat for health, not only will your heart and other organs benefit, so will your feet. Aim for five servings of colorful fruits and vegetables daily. Choose lean protein sources like chicken and fish along with whole grains like brown rice. Add plenty of low-fat dairy foods to provide calcium and improve bone health.

2.      Next up: exercise! Are you one of those people who feels overwhelmed at the thought of going to the gym? That’s ok. You don’t have to be a jock to add activity to your daily schedule. Take a walk for cardiovascular conditioning or head to a gentle yoga or tai chi class to improve balance. This can reduce your risk of foot and ankle injuries due to a fall.

3.      Finally, visit your foot doctor for an examination at least once each year, more often if you have diabetes, a whole-body illness that poses particular risks to the feet. With years of specialized training and experience, a board-certified podiatrist like Dr. James M. McKee is a medical specialist and the best-qualified medical professional to care for this part of your body.

Do your feet hurt, or is it time for your annual check up? Schedule an appointment in Podiatry Group of Annapolis, P.A.’s modern, comfortable office on Solomons Island Road. Call our friendly staff at 410-224-4448 or click here to get started today.