Sure, there aren’t as many medical emergencies and complications in feet and ankles as you might find in areas like the heart, lungs, or brain, but they still exist. This is especially true in the case of diabetes and how it relates to foot health.
But here’s the thing:
Just because a problem isn’t life-threatening doesn’t mean it still isn’t a big problem!
In this case, the big problem is that foot pain can take away from your quality of life. Depending on your particular situation, it can turn enjoyable activities into miserable experiences. Sometimes, it even outright takes away your ability to do the things in life you enjoy doing.
Something many local residents enjoy is our fall season here in El Paso. There are various reasons for this, with a major one being the seasonal activities that comes with this time of year.
Now, if you have an existing problem in a foot or ankle, come see us and we will provide you with a careful diagnosis and effective treatment plan to resolve it.
Even better, though, is to avoid a painful situation in the first place.
To that end, we have some tips that will help so you can enjoy fall activities like:
Howl at the Moon 2018: Humane Society Annual Banquet and Auction
This annual banquet and auction is one of the Humane Society of El Paso’s (HSEP) Signature Events—but there’s more to the story than that!
In addition to the fact that the funds raised by this fall event are used to save thousands of lives every year, this is a great opportunity to have fun, meet other animal lovers and advocates, and possibly even win one of the amazing auction items donated by local businesses.
There are both silent and live auctions during the night, with enough prizes and variety to ensure that virtually all attendees can leave with something great.
Howl at the Moon is being hosted this year at the beautiful 150 Sunset on November 2.
Boo at the Zoo
If you want to take your kids to the wildest trick-or-treating event around, then you need to head to the El Paso Zoo on October 27 or October 28. While there, your children will enjoy animal encounters, games and activities, and, of course, plenty of candy from the various trick-or-treat stations.
Your children will love how much fun they have, while you can appreciate the fact this is all happening in a safe environment. And given how popular this event is—there are over 19,000 visitors expected over the course of the two-day weekend—the zoo has extended hours!
WinterFest
Yes, this article is about avoiding foot pain at fall events here in El Paso. So why include WinterFest?
Well, because this event—billed as “The Coolest Fest in the Southwest”—kicks off on November 18 this year. And guess what? That is still technically considered to be fall!
(Even closer to the heart of fall is the “soft opening” of the ice rink on November 17.)
Given that winter doesn’t officially start until December 21, the majority of WinterFest—which wraps up on January 6, 2019—is actually in the fall.
Please note: At the time of this posting, details are admittedly a bit scarce for this event, but keep checking their website for more information.
Prevent Foot Pain So You Can Enjoy Fall Activities!
So how can you reduce your risk of developing foot pain?
Here are a couple of tips for optimal foot health:
Exercise on a regular basis.
You probably can think of an abundance of reasons why exercise is so important to for you physical (and emotional and mental) health. Well, some of them actual relate to your foot health. For example, a regular exercise routine can help you burn calories and fat, which sheds unwanted pounds. This benefits your feet because, obviously, you are placing less physical force on them when you weigh less.
One particular facet of exercise that can be especially helpful in reducing your risk for foot pain is stretching. Your feet are complex structures, consisting of numerous parts that are all connected. Due to that, tightness in one area (even outside your feet) can lead to foot pain.
Don’t overdo it with exercise.
Whereas exercise is very important for both your overall and foot health, too much exercise can be a problem. Our bodies are actually quite remarkable when it comes to handling the tremendous amounts of physical force we place upon them—even walking, considered to be a “low-impact” activity, puts upwards of two times your bodyweight on the landing foot with every step!
(We can still consider that to be lower impact because running can elevate that number to as much as four times your weight!)
In order to avoid overtraining and fatiguing your feet, you might want to consider cross-training in your workout routine. This is a matter of using a variety of exercises, instead of relying on a single activity. The best way to do this is to swap out a couple of high-impact sessions during the week with some swimming, cycling, yoga, weightlifting, and/or walking.
Mind your diet.
As with exercise, your regular diet—which isn’t the same thing as “going on a diet”—is not likely something you relate with foot health. Also, as with exercise, the food you eat is actually quite important for having healthy feet.
In this case, your food choices can be beneficial in:
- Maintaining a healthy weight so your lower limbs don’t have to endure too much force during the day.
- Providing your foot bones—and your feet (and ankles) contain one-quarter of all the bones in your body—with calcium and vitamin D for optimal strength.
- Ensuring proper blood flow by eating foods low in cholesterol and saturated fat.
- Restricting sugar intake to lower your risk of developing diabetes—which can be a catastrophic disease for your feet!
Mind your shoes.
Footwear plays a bigger role in foot health than you might think. More specifically, a decent pair of shoes can help you lower your risk for a variety of conditions, including: heel pain, blisters, corns and calluses, ingrown toenails, bunions, metatarsalgia (forefoot pain), heel spurs, athlete’s foot, fungal toenails, etc.
When it comes to your footwear choices, always make sure your shoes fit comfortably, are activity-appropriate, well-constructed, and made from breathable materials. If you cover those bases, you decrease the odds of developing or worsening any of the aforementioned conditions.
Follow doctor’s orders.
No matter the condition we’re treating, please keep in mind that treatment is only effective when the plan is followed, even if it seems as though the problem has been resolved. Far too often, patients start feeling better and abandon the practices that are working.
Something specific that needs to be noted in this regard is that you should wear prescribed orthotics on a regular basis. Remember, these devices are like eyeglasses in the fact they only work if you use them. (Fortunately, most people wear their orthotics because they relieve pain caused by biomechanical and structural issues!)
These tips are a great starting point for keeping your feet as healthy and painless possible, but issues can (and do) arise—even when you follow the best possible preventive measures.
Do You Need The Help Of An Experienced and Caring Podiatrist? Contact Our El Paso Foot Doctor Today.
If you're experiencing any type of foot pain you should speak with an experienced podiatrist as soon as possible. Please contact us online to schedule your appoinment or call one of our convenient El Paso offices directly. To reach our Sierra Tower Building podiatrist office please call 915.533.5151. You can find driving directions here. To reach our George Dieter Drive podiatry office please call 915.856.3331. Driving directions are available here.
