Self Check Ups Can Help Keep Your Feet Healthy

12 Jan Self Check Ups Can Help Keep Your Feet Healthy

Your feet carry your whole body and support nearly every activity you do, whether work or play. At Great Neck Family Foot Care, we believe that you and your foot doctor are partners in protecting the health of your feet, toes and ankles. One of the best ways you can help maintain your podiatric health is by regularly examining your feet for changes or irregularities. Here are the major areas to check and what to look for:

• Pain: It may be off and on, develop gradually or start suddenly, but pain is never normal. If you are experiencing pain, your foot doctor will want to know when the pain started, if it is constant or comes and goes and if it is associated with activity.
• Movement: Flex your feet and toes, rotate your ankles—do you feel any stiffness or pain? Do you have full range of motion? Test your balance: stand on one foot, close your eyes and stick your arms out to the sides. You should be able to hold this position somewhere between 7 and 15 seconds, depending on your age.
• Sensation: Do you have normal feeling in all parts of your feet? Use an object with a dull end, such as the eraser side of a pencil or a pen with the cap on. Without applying pressure, stroke the top, sides and bottom of your feet. Lack of sensation in any part of your foot can indicate a nerve problem or a disease that causes neuropathy, such as diabetes.
• Skin changes: Check your feet for any bumps, calluses, blisters or rashes. Is your skin discolored, red or inflamed? Skin changes can be a sign of an internal foot structure problem, a circulation issue or undue pressure being exerted on a part of the foot. Be sure to examine your toenails as well for any signs of ingrown nails or fungal infection, such as irritation, discoloration or crumbling.

If you do find an abnormality or area of concern, make an appointment at our Great Neck office by calling: 516-482-5999 (if you are sick or disabled and unable to make it into the office, request a house visit). Our board certified foot and ankle surgeons, Dr. Alec Hochstein and Dr. Diana Gagliano have years of experience diagnosing and treating all podiatric disorders and will quickly get you on the road to recovery.