If Only Your Feet Could Talk
- “This flaky skin might be more than just a dryness issue” Not all dryness of the skin is from just have a dryness issue. Sometimes, dryness and peeling of the skin is from an “athletes-feet” type of condition. Use an OTC antifungal cream (not spray or powder) at least once daily for a month. Dry skin like this can lead to Toenail Fungus, a condition no one wants.
- “We can’t tolerate not having something on us when on a hard surface” Your feet might have been able to tolerate being barefoot at a younger age, but things change. Pain in the heels and balls of the feet could stem from being barefoot on hard surfaces. Not to be a buzzkill, but after about the age of forty, most people’s feet are asking for some cushion. Consider wearing quality sandals in the home such as Birkenstock, Oofos, Vionic or similar.
- “We aren’t made to go from 0 to 60” The brain might say yes but the feet will say no. Slowly increase an exercise routine to allow your body to adjust. Increasing the distance by 10% per week is a good approach. This goes for jogging, power-walking, or using a treadmill. Do the same if you’re using an incline.
- “We aren’t in our twenties any longer” This is for you “pickle-ballers” who expect to get on the court without warming up. Achilles injuries are rampant from this sport, partly from the lack of stretching. This and other foot ailments have also been a result of over-use. Just like above, build up your body’s tolerance by increasing your playing time gradually.
- “This heel pain isn’t going away anytime soon” Constant use makes it difficult for many foot conditions to heal with time. Pain in the heel might just top this list. Plantar Fasciitis can be a beast. Long-standing heel pain often needs more advanced techniques to heal. Non-invasive methods are available as long as extensive damage hasn’t occurred.
- “We don’t want to get what that guy has” This what your clear toenails are saying about the one that doesn’t look normal. Toenail Fungus is common and can spread quickly. OTC remedies are grossly ineffective for this condition. To avoid an unsightly and embarrassing problem, having an abnormal nail evaluated and treated should be done as early as possible.
- “These shoes aren’t cutting the mustard” When foot pain occurs, a place to start is evaluating your shoes. Brands such as Brooks, New Balance, Hoka, Asics and Saucony are a cut above the rest. If better shoes don’t improve the pain, we recommend a visit to us as early as possible.