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Nothing ruins a summer vacation faster than a painful or injured foot. As millions of people hit the beaches this summer, it is important to pay extra attention to the care of your feet. Don't let your feet ruin your day at the beach. Walking, jogging and playing sports on soft, uneven surfaces like sand frequently leads to arch pain, heel pain, ankle sprains and other injuries. Athletic shoes provide the heel cushioning and arch support that flip-flops and sandals lack. Nights out on a summer evening can also take a toll on women's feet due to narrow-fitting high heels that cramp the forefoot and pose risks for your feet. Take extra precautions this summer to protect and maintain attractive feet. Bunions Bunions begin with a leaning of the big toe, gradually changing the angle of the bones over the years and slowly producing the characteristic bunion bump. They are most often caused by an inherited faulty mechanical structure of the foot. Although both men and women can get bunions, the shoes worn by women sometimes make the deformity progressively worse. High heels do not cause bunions, but they can cause the deformity to get progressively worse because they crowd the toes, force the body's weight onto the ball of the foot and disrupt the body's alignment leading to a list of problems for women and their feet. Only surgery can remove a bunion, but in most cases, conservative treatments successfully treat and stop bunion formation and pain. Ankle Sprains and Heel Pain While anyone can sprain their ankle, women are more susceptible to this injury when wearing high-heeled shoes, platform-soled shoes, or other improper footwear. Athletic shoes provide the heel cushioning and arch support that flip-flops and sandals lack, protecting your feet from injury. If injuries do occur, rest, ice, compression and elevation will help ease your pain and swelling. Any injury that does not resolve within a few days should be examined by a foot and ankle surgeon. If left untreated, ankle sprains can lead to chronic ankle instability and potential arthritis. Heel pain is most often caused by plantar fasciitis, although it can also be due to other causes. Although a faulty foot structure is the most common cause of plantar fasciitis, in women it may result from wearing non-supportive shoes such as flip-flops and ballet flats. Treatment of heel pain, or plantar fasciitis, begins at home with stretching activities, avoiding going barefoot, Ice, limitation of activities, shoe modifications and medications. Summer Tips for Healthy Feet From the airport to your hotel room, there are steps to take in order to prevent foot and ankle pain and injury. The following are simple guidelines to help you protect your feet on your summer vacations: * Wear comfortable shoes to the airport.
* Wear socks with your comfortable shoes.
* Avoid bringing new shoes on vacation.
* Check your children's shoes for fit and comfort, too.
* Bring flip-flops or sandals.
* Pack an antifungal cream or powder.
* Place a towel on the floor before entering the shower or bathtub.
* Consider wearing compression socks on the plane to help prevent blood clots and deep vein thrombosis.
* Pack a small first aid kit. If you feel pain in your foot or ankle visit your podiatrist in Memphis, TN for further diagnosis and treatment. Prevent painful foot conditions and injuries by wearing appropriate footwear in order to keep your feet happy on your summer vacations.
Dr. Nathan Lucas of Advanced Foot and Ankle Care of Memphis, LLC is a leading Memphis, TN podiatrist. He is a board certified foot surgeon specializing in reconstructive, revisional and cosmetic foot and ankle surgery. Services include the treatment of heel pain, fungal toenails and bunions in Memphis, TN.
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