Posted on: KRNV-TV
(ARA) - Relaxing on the beach, hiking through the mountains, trekking around a new city or just keeping up with all the kids' summer activities - however you spend summer vacation, your feet will carry you through it all.
During the course of these adventures, your feet may endure stubbed toes, miles of walking, hot sand, and possibly even some sunburn. So be kind to your tootsies, and take note of these tips for protecting your feet from summer heat, courtesy of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA):
Foot care on the road
You may be looking forward to a beach vacation or lounging by the pool at a luxury hotel. But even those fun activities can take a toll on your feet if you don't practice proper safety.
"Even if you're just lying still on your back soaking up the sun's rays, your feet are still vulnerable," says Dr. Michael King, president of the APMA. "You can seriously sunburn your feet. And no matter how up-scale your hotel is, athlete's foot can be present in all public pool areas."
To help steer clear of foot problems, walk barefoot as little as possible. Going shoeless exposes your feet to sunburn, plantar warts, athlete's foot, ring worm and other infections, and increases the risk of injury. Wear shoes or flip-flops around the pool, to the beach, in locker rooms, and even inside your hotel room, as infection-causing bacteria can linger in carpets and on bathroom tiles.
Just as you rely on sunscreen and drinking plenty of water during the summer, these practices also help your feet. Apply sunscreen on your whole foot, especially the tops and fronts of ankles. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to help minimize foot swelling caused by the heat.
Always pack an extra pair of shoes, especially if you expect your feet will get wet. And take along a foot-care kit that includes sterile bandages, antibiotic cream, an emollient-enriched cream, blister pads and an anti-inflammatory pain-reliever.
Avoid flip-flop fiascoes
Ditching heavy boots and wearing lighter footwear is one of the great joys of summer. But be aware that not all types of footwear are good for your feet. Flip-flops, in particular, can cause problems.
"During warmer months, many podiatrists treat more foot problems, and they can often be traced back to the wearing of flip-flops," King says. "You don't have to give up wearing flip-flops altogether; certain types offer a superior amount of stability and support than others."
So, what's considered a bad flip-flop? Flip-flops with soles that freely bend and twist offer no support or stability. Choose flip-flops that bend only at the ball of the foot and that provide arch support, which cushions the foot and provides stability. High-quality soft leather for the thong part of the flip-flop will help you avoid blisters.
Your toes or heels should never hang off the edge of the flip-flop. Throw away flip-flops that are old, worn, cracked or frayed - no matter how much you loved them last season.
Finally, never wear flip-flops for doing yard work, playing sports, or taking long walks. Do wear good, supportive flip-flips at the pool, beach, or in public places.
Your feet will take you to a lot of cool places this summer. Keeping them safe and comfortable can maximize the fun during your next warm-weather adventure.
During the course of these adventures, your feet may endure stubbed toes, miles of walking, hot sand, and possibly even some sunburn. So be kind to your tootsies, and take note of these tips for protecting your feet from summer heat, courtesy of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA):
Foot care on the road
You may be looking forward to a beach vacation or lounging by the pool at a luxury hotel. But even those fun activities can take a toll on your feet if you don't practice proper safety.
"Even if you're just lying still on your back soaking up the sun's rays, your feet are still vulnerable," says Dr. Michael King, president of the APMA. "You can seriously sunburn your feet. And no matter how up-scale your hotel is, athlete's foot can be present in all public pool areas."
To help steer clear of foot problems, walk barefoot as little as possible. Going shoeless exposes your feet to sunburn, plantar warts, athlete's foot, ring worm and other infections, and increases the risk of injury. Wear shoes or flip-flops around the pool, to the beach, in locker rooms, and even inside your hotel room, as infection-causing bacteria can linger in carpets and on bathroom tiles.
Just as you rely on sunscreen and drinking plenty of water during the summer, these practices also help your feet. Apply sunscreen on your whole foot, especially the tops and fronts of ankles. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to help minimize foot swelling caused by the heat.
Always pack an extra pair of shoes, especially if you expect your feet will get wet. And take along a foot-care kit that includes sterile bandages, antibiotic cream, an emollient-enriched cream, blister pads and an anti-inflammatory pain-reliever.
Avoid flip-flop fiascoes
Ditching heavy boots and wearing lighter footwear is one of the great joys of summer. But be aware that not all types of footwear are good for your feet. Flip-flops, in particular, can cause problems.
"During warmer months, many podiatrists treat more foot problems, and they can often be traced back to the wearing of flip-flops," King says. "You don't have to give up wearing flip-flops altogether; certain types offer a superior amount of stability and support than others."
So, what's considered a bad flip-flop? Flip-flops with soles that freely bend and twist offer no support or stability. Choose flip-flops that bend only at the ball of the foot and that provide arch support, which cushions the foot and provides stability. High-quality soft leather for the thong part of the flip-flop will help you avoid blisters.
Your toes or heels should never hang off the edge of the flip-flop. Throw away flip-flops that are old, worn, cracked or frayed - no matter how much you loved them last season.
Finally, never wear flip-flops for doing yard work, playing sports, or taking long walks. Do wear good, supportive flip-flips at the pool, beach, or in public places.
Your feet will take you to a lot of cool places this summer. Keeping them safe and comfortable can maximize the fun during your next warm-weather adventure.
Please call the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center office anytime @702-878-2455 between Monday – Friday and we would be happy to set up an appointment for you. Please visit our website @ www.FallCenter.com or www.walkwithdiabetes.com. The Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has Diagnostic imaging: Digital X-Rays, Ultrasound or Advanced Imaging will be used to aid in the diagnosis.
Dr. Anthony Ricciardi at the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has completed training in endoscopic/minimally invasive surgery for chronic heel pain and nerve pain, foot and ankle joint replacement for restoring pain free motion, arthroscopic surgery, bunion surgery, fracture repair, flat foot correction, external fixation for complex deformities and extensive experience in peripheral nerve surgery including diabetic peripheral neuropathy and reconstructive surgery of previously failed foot surgical procedures. In addition to his surgical training Dr. Ricciardi focuses on sports medicine of the foot and ankle through regenerative techniques using the patient’s own blood/platelets for healing chronic foot and ankle problems (pain) as a result of repetitive sport injuries. This cutting edge technology enables patients to continue training with little or no down time. Dr. Ricciardi continues to be active in teaching and training other podiatric surgeons on innovative surgical techniques in foot surgery. Dr. Ricciardi is Board Certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and Fellow of the Association of Extremity Nerve Surgeons. Dr. Ricciardi’s vision is to bring each patient the most current state of the Art Technology and personalized treatment options to meet their Foot and Ankle needs (from conservative care to surgical options). Dr. Ricciardi believes in quality service and puts his patients first!
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