Did you know October is Foot Health Month? This year we are encouraging people to see a Podiatrist for an annual Foot Health Assessment.

Why may you ask? We see an optometrist to check our eye health, we see a dentist to check our teeth health, why don’t you see a Podiatrist to check your Foot Health!

Your feet are a marvel of engineering and we only have one pair to last a lifetime. The feet are a complex part of the body that can tell you a whole lot about your health. How much do you really know about them and what can go wrong?

As we all know, it’s hard to concentrate on anything when your feet hurt, but they’re surprisingly susceptible to injury — from everyday calluses and corns to more serious problems like diabetic neuropathy.

Here are some of the most interesting facts about feet and foot health.

  1. Your feet contain 25% of all the bones in your body. Each foot is made up of 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments, 4000 nerves and 19 muscles.
  2. The average foot takes around 6,000 steps a day. That equates to over 185,000 kilometers in a lifetime.
  3. When running you place 4 times your body weight in pressure through your feet.
  4. 9 out of 10 women wear shoes that are too small for their feet.
  5. Plantarfasciitis (heel/arch pain) affects about 40% of the population
  6. 75% of people will experience foot problems in their lifetime.
  7. Foot ailments can become your first sign of more serious medical problems. Your feet mirror your general health, so conditions like arthritis, diabetes, nerve and circulatory disorders can show their initial symptoms in your feet.
  8. Standing in one spot is far more tiring than walking because the demands are being made on the same few muscles for a longer length of time.
  9. Women have about four times as many foot problems as men.
  10. Foot disorders in the elderly are extremely common and are the cause of much pain and disability, and consequent loss of mobility and independence.

Small issues if addressed early can prevent long-term complications, which can impact not only on your foot health but your entire health and wellbeing.

At ProMed Podiatry Clinic we strongly believe in the importance of your foot health through preventative approaches.

A foot health assessment involves:

  • Checking your skin and nail condition
  • Checking your circulation
  • Checking your sensation
  • Reviewing your medical history, surgical history and medications to assess their impact on your foot health
  • Assessing your walking and running for anomalies
  • Assessing your footwear and how appropriate they are for your activities.

ProMed Podiatry has developed a Foot Health Survey to assist you in assessing your own foot health.

If you have specific foot health concerns refer to the Conditions Treated and Services provided sections within the ProMed Podiatry Clinic website.

Please contact our friendly staff to book an appointment for a Foot Health Assessment on 07 5522 1230 or Book Online.

 

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