5 Ways Men Can Take Better Care of Their Feet

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Men, we’re talking to you today. You’ve got a reputation for putting your health on the back burner. And when it comes to your foot health in particular, so many of you put it on the burner behind the back burner, so to speak. All of us at Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center in Monmouth County want you to stop what you’re doing and consciously pull your foot health to the fore. International Men’s Health Week, June 14-21, is the perfect time to ask you to do this.

Here are five easy ways you can take better care of your feet, starting this week:

  1. Look at them. No, really, take a good look. Get to know what’s normal in terms of size, shape, color, and the condition of your toenails. When you know what’s normal, you can more easily spot what’s abnormal. Changes in color or temperature, for example, can signal various diseases.

  2. Buy new shoes. First, you’ll know it’s time to get new shoes when you can see that they’re beat up: there’s no more visible tread on the soles, the leather is cracked, or airing them out doesn’t take away the odor. Also, if you constantly get blisters, corns, calluses, or arch pain, it’s a sign your shoes are no longer giving you enough support. Finally, if you own athletic shoes, remember to replace them after 300-400 miles, even if they look like they’re in good shape.

  3. Stop smoking. Smoking contributes to narrowing of the arteries, making it difficult to get enough blood flowing to your feet.

  4. Lose weight if you need to. Extra pounds mean extra pressure on the many joints, muscles, and soft tissues in your feet. Overweight people are more likely to suffer from foot problems such as plantar fasciitis, arthritis, swelling, ulcers, bunions, and stress fractures.

  5. Fix nagging problems. Foot pain generally gets worse without treatment. And treatment can be more difficult the longer you wait. So, if you’ve got bunions, heel pain, or crumbling toenails, make an appointment with one of our board-certified podiatrists, Dr. Samantha Boyd, Dr. Hal Ornstein, Dr. Dan Phan, and Dr. Joseph Saka. Call (732) 905-1110 or contact us online for prompt, professional treatment at our Jackson or Howell, New Jersey, podiatry office.