You may not consider this, but no part of your body takes more of the beating on a regular basis than your back, your knees, and your feet. There is a tremendous amount of force that are put on your feet every day, and this can lead to several issues. You want to make sure you care for your feet so that you do not have health problems later, plus proper footcare ensures you are able to remain active throughout your life.
Many will ignore foot problems that arise, leaving it will just �get better.� However, you need to take this seriously. Here are some reasons why it is important for you to visit a podiatrist, a foot doctor.
A Sports Injury
If you have injured your foot or ankle and are a person who participates in athletic activities, even going to the gym, you need to visit a podiatrist. Runners often develop shin splints or even athlete�s foot, conditions that can become chronic and painful if not treated right away. Wearing the wrong shoe or improper support can lead to stress fractures or other common problems, so getting to a podiatrist to ensure there are not serious conditions is essential.
In addition, those who are reaching their golden years need to remain physically active to help keep their mental and physical health in good shape. Bone density can diminish as one reaches into their 60s, so maintaining proper footcare is essential to staying active. If an injury arises, even a small one, it is important to visit the podiatrist to ensure there are no issues.
Chronic Athlete�s Foot
If you are suffering from chronic athlete�s foot, this could be due to an infection. If you have already gone to your general practitioner and have found that this is not improving, it may be time to visit a podiatrist. It may be an infection that is causing the irritation, pain, redness, and itchiness and needs to be treated immediately.
Ingrown Toenails
An ingrown toenail is a serious condition. This can lead to an infection which could be serious if not treated right away. The podiatrist will remove a small portion of the nail so that the toe can heal, and the infection can be removed.
Heel Pain
There is a lot of force that is exerted on the heel of your foot every time you step down or step forward. Issues may arise in your heel, such as bone spurs, arthritis, or an injury to the tendon or muscle. This can make walking painful and can create a chronic condition. Heel pain that has lasted longer than four or five days means you need to visit your podiatrist.
Bunions, Corns, and Calluses�Oh My!
There are many common conditions that occur on a person�s foot during their lifetime. These include such things as corns, calluses, and bunions. Corns and calluses occur when there is a build-up of hardened skin and a localized area. If it becomes too thick, it can lead to pain and discomfort. A bunion is a hard bump that usually forms to the outside of your big toe joint. As it gets bigger, it can lead to pain and inflammation. Each of these conditions need to be treated by a podiatrist to ensure they do not become more painful.
Truth be told, any pain or inflammation in your foot needs to be treated.