Dan Maclaren

Written by: Dan Maclaren, Sports Medicine and Fitness Technology, KU Fort Lauderdale 

Your car requires regular maintenance at the auto shop, so why wouldn’t you do your feet the same favor? According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, the average person takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps in a day. It’s especially important that women take care of their feet, as they have about four times as many foot problems as men. Don’t forget about the health of your children’s feet because kids can also have similar foot problems as adults. If you take care of your children’s feet today, you can actually prevent unhealthy foot conditions in the future.

Know the signs that indicate poor foot health:

·         Discolored toenails – See a podiatric specialist if your toenails have a green tint, or change from a healthy pink color to white.

·         Swollen feet – May be a sign of kidney or heart problems.

·         Swollen joints – May be related to rheumatoid or osteoarthritis.

·         One foot suddenly begins to swell – Can possibly indicate a blockage of a lymph node or a deep-vein thrombosis.

·         Corns and blisters – Are your shoes too tight? It might be time to be fitted for a new pair.

·         Toes going numb – Visit your podiatric specialist as this might be a sign of diabetes.

When it comes to your foot health, don’t tiptoe around its importance!

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