Why You Should Not Walk Barefoot!

The warm weather is here, and I have seen lots of people shedding their shoes and walking barefoot. Although tempting, free, and fun, walking barefoot can pose many risks to the feet both inside and outside the house. I have had patients recently who stepped on objects while barefoot in their own homes. Simple things like hardwood floors and pet hair can easily penetrate the bottom of the foot and cause pain, open sores, and infection. Additionally, broken glass, toothpicks, and other objects on the floors of our homes can puncture our feet. Even dropping an object on a bare foot in the house (cans, bottles, etc.) can cause a puncture wound, fracture (break), soft tissue injury, or swelling. Outside, the risks of barefoot walking increase dramatically, and people can step on more serious things, which can include rocks, nails, wood, and many other materials. Additionally, barefoot walking outside exposes the foot to cuts and abrasions from sharp surfaces. I have also had patients burn their skin while walking barefoot outside on hot sand. Choosing a supportive and protective shoe for inside and outside the house will stabilize the foot and also generally sheild it from some of these dangers. Foot pain? Give us a call, 708-763-0580.

Why Checking your Feet is Important

All diabetic patients that enter a podiatry office, are given lengthy instructions about checking their feet. We want them to check for new openings, redness, swelling, drainage, color changes, new moles, blisters, or any new change. However, checking the feet is important for all of us. I had a recent patient who came to the office with swelling and a new black spot on the bottom of the foot. Obviously, swelling is important, and it is essential to see why the patient has it. However, a new black, brown, yellow, white, purple or red spot is something that should also be checked by the foot doctor. Often, these color changes have a straight forward cause and treatment, but sometimes, they can be a form of skin cancer that needs to be diagnosed and treated. The bottom of the foot, in-between the toes, and nails are important areas of the foot where changes can occur, and people do not even notice. If you see something new or different on your foot, get it checked! Dr. Bender, 708-763-0580.

Supportive Shoes-Why are they so Important?

Every day, I encounter people with major foot pain. AND, every day, I find that many of those people are wearing shoes that are bad for their feet-too tight, too pointed, too flexible, too high, too flat..... The patient is often shocked when I twist, bend, or even roll their shoe up into a ball! Bad shoes are not the only reason many of these patients have foot pain, but the poor choice in shoes is often not helping the already injured, inflamed, or irritated foot. Supportive shoes should not bend in half, be easily twisted, or rolled up. The foot counts on the support from our shoes to function properly all day. Walking, climbing stairs, jogging to the train, rapidly shifting to the side to grab something, jumping, kneeling to garden or pick something up, and many other actions can be achieved more easily with a supportive shoe. High heels, many styles of flip flops, ballet flats, and pointed shoes often do not stabilize the foot and can actually put the foot in danger. Next time you are shopping, pick out shoes that are good for your feet! If your foot hurts, give us a call, 708-763-0580, or visit oakparkpodiatry.com.