The moment you can ditch the bulky shoes and boots of winter, you want to take advantage and release your feet.
While getting outside and airing everything out is great, our experienced team of podiatry specialists at Neuhaus Foot and Ankle wants you to consider these foot health strategies.
One of the biggest rites of summer is to ditch your shoes and go barefoot. Whether you want to stick your toes in the sand by a lake or let your feet enjoy a soft patch of grass, we understand how great it feels to let your feet get in direct contact with the ground.
For some people, going barefoot can be more problematic as they can’t afford any risk of cuts and infections, which increase exponentially when you’re barefoot.
For example, for the 38.4 million Americans who have diabetes or the 12 million Americans who have peripheral artery disease (PAD), we don’t recommend barefoot activities of any kind. People with diabetes and PAD are more at risk for slow-healing wounds on their feet, which can quickly become limb-threatening infections.
Furthermore, if you have a foot issue, such as plantar fasciitis or a Morton’s neuroma, we suggest wearing supportive shoes until the condition is resolved.
Lastly, if you’re immunocompromised or in an older age group, your feet may be more susceptible to infections, such as warts and toenail fungus. In this case, we recommend against going barefoot.
Even if you’re not more vulnerable, anyone can contract these infections, so wearing flip-flops or other shoes is a good idea in public places.
If your feet (and you) are healthy and you’re not at higher risk for infection, then, by all means, enjoy some barefoot time, but just do so carefully.
When you slip some shoes on, choose options that support your feet.
Some modern footwear favors fashion over all else, which can damage your feet. Misalignment issues like hammertoes and bunions can be exacerbated by shoes that crowd your toes — think heels and shoes with pointy toes.
So, one of the best gifts you can give your feet is to treat them to shoes that provide plenty of room for your feet and toes to spread out. By giving your feet the space and support they need to function correctly, you can enjoy well-balanced feet.
You can even up the ante by investing in custom orthotics that provide a little extra support for your feet in whatever shoes you’re wearing.
When you’re out and about this summer in sandals or barefoot, please don’t forget to apply some sunscreen to the tops of your feet. Sunburn on your feet can be very painful, so don’t stop your sun protection efforts at your ankles.
With a little effort, you and your feet can spend a happy summer enjoying the outdoors safely and comfortably.
If you have more questions about ways in which you can support your feet or you have a foot issue you’d like us to take a look at, please contact one of our 16 locations in Tennessee to schedule a consultation.
