Does Foot Health Really Matter?

Podiatrist, Dr. Keith Card took a minute to answer some quick questions about foot health.

What does a podiatrist do?

A podiatrist is a doctor who specializes in the surgical and medical treatment of the foot and lower leg. This could be anything from a ruptured Achilles tendon to a broken ankle to an ingrown toenail.  Podiatrists also treat nerve conditions and general skin conditions as well as bones, joints, and tendons in the foot and ankle.  Of the 206 bones in the human body, a quarter of those are in the feet.  There are also as many nerve endings on the bottom of your feet as there are in your lips.  The feet really are complex and very sensitive, so it’s an important part of the body to keep healthy.

Why is foot health so important?

Patients tell me every day that when your feet hurt, you hurt all over.  When your feet hurt, it makes it very difficult to do essentially anything.  Normal work and recreational activities will suffer when you have pain.  Keeping your feet in good shape will help make it so you can pursue the other things in your life that you want to do.

Does footwear make a difference?

There’s no one right shoe type for everyone, but shoes really do matter.  You need to get a shoe that is appropriate for your activities and is appropriate for your foot.  It’s really important that you spend some time getting a shoe that fits your foot.  The shoe that works for your friends may not work for you and there’s no one brand that will always be perfect either.  As long as the shoe fits, wear it!

Can inserts and/or orthopedics be helpful in preventing foot pain?

There are different types of orthotics that are for different conditions and activities.  Some orthotics can be very beneficial however the wrong orthotic can be detrimental.  It’s important that you get the right information to have the right orthotic to fit not only the activity you are doing, but also your foot type and the type of shoe you are wearing.

Dr. Keith Card is a board certified Podiatrist at Tahoe Fracture & Orthopedic Medical Clinic