Dr. Hubert Lee of CarePlus Foot & Ankle Specialists is passionate about sharing preventative healthcare tips to help patients decrease the likelihood of foot and ankle conditions. Today, he’s sharing information regarding the five worst foot habits that can affect your foot health.
Bad Habit #1: Wearing Shoes Without Socks
Doing this can turn your feet – and even your shoes – into a breeding ground for fungus. Fungal foot infections flourish in dark, moist areas, and without the protection of socks, you could be triggering fungal foot infections. Even after your fungal infection has been treated, the fungus can still remain in your shoes. So wear socks – your feet will thank you for it.
Bad Habit #2: Wearing Flip-Flops and Heels on a Regular Basis
While wearing heels for a special event won’t hurt your feet, wearing them regularly can instigate a number of foot problems. Heels that have higher heels can damage the arches of the foot and will often cause a bunion to form, which in some cases may require surgery. Save the flip-flops for the beach and the locker room shower. They provide no support and raise the risk of heel spurs, tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, and ankle sprains.
Bad Habit #3: Not Replacing Running Shoes
Holding onto your favorite running shoes for too long can lead to diminished arch support during exercise, thereby elevating the odds of suffering ankle, knee and foot injuries. Many podiatrists recommend replacing your running shoes every four months or 300 miles, depending on how often you run. While this might sound expensive, it’s much more affordable than surgery.
Bad Habit #4: Not Resting Your Feet
Staying on your feet for lengthy periods can increase the risk of ankle, foot, knee, and lower back problems. In every aspect of life, it’s important to give yourself time to recover, and this is especially true for your feet. Your feet absorb a lot of the impact of everyday life, so by relieving some of the stress on your feet, you’re alleviating it across your entire spine.
Bad Habit #5: Running in Bare Feet
People who run barefoot or with barefoot running shoes should perform strength training on their feet to ensure that they are ready for the change in running style and posture. If you’ve spent years running in supportive shoes, have a history of ankle injuries, or have weak or flat arches, changing your running style suddenly could put you at a higher risk for a running injury, or worsen your current weaknesses.
If you want to learn more ways to keep your feet healthy – or are experiencing any problems with your feet or ankles – call the office of Dr. Hubert Lee of CarePlus Foot & Ankle Specialists at (425) 455-0936 to schedule a consultation.
