Valley Foot Care, Inc.

Patient Education Library

Preventative Foot Care

Preventative Foot Care Phoenix AZDAILY FOOT INSPECTIONS

  • Use hand held mirror or floor mirror to visually inspect your feet
  • Ask a family member to help you if necessary
  • Look for blisters, cracks, scratches and cuts
  • Look for drainage and note color and odor
  • Look for redness, skin changes and excessive swelling
  • Note any peculiar sensations, such as burning, tingling “pins and needles”, or shooting pains
  • Note any cramping in the calf or foot
  • Let your doctor know what you have found so that the problem is caught early and may be addressed properly

 

DAILY SHOE INSPECTIONS

  • Look at bottom of shoes for tacks, nails, etc.
  • Look inside shoes before you put them on each day
  • Be careful when buying new shoes-be sure you have room for the size and shape of your feet
  • Exercise caution with new shoes- a slow break-in period helps prevent blisters
  • Avoid sandals with thongs between the toes
  • Avoid socks/stockings with a tight elastic top

 

AVOID TEMPERATURE EXTREMES

  • Avoid use of heating pads and water bottles on feet
  • Avoid placing feet on electric heaters and radiators to keep warm
  • Watch out for hot pavement and sand in warms states-always wear shoes outside
  • Watch out for cold exposure( frostbite) in cold states-wear thick socks and waterproof shoes
  • Use sunscreen on the tops of your feet in the summer

 

GOOD FOOT HYGIENE

  • Clean your feet daily- wash gently with warm soapy water and dry carefully (especially between toes)
  • Avoid soaking your feet as it can cause skin to dry and crack
  • Use lotion for dry feet-but never apply it between the toes
  • Wear white cotton socks if your feet sweat (avoid nylon socks)

 

PERSONAL HEALTH

  • Avoid walking barefoot-indoors and outdoors
  • Avoid self-treatment (salves, ointments, needles, pumice stones, emery boards, etc.)
  • Avoid cutting corns and calluses yourself
  • Avoid over-the-counter callus and corn remover pads-they contain a mild acid which damages healthy skin if used improperly
  • Avoid caffeine and smoking as they affect the blood supply to the feet
  • Avoid excessive alcohol as it affects the nerve supply to the feet
  • Good glucose control helps prevent complications of diabetes, such as visual disturbances, kidney diseases and nerve damage
  • Daily exercise helps improve blood flow to your feet
  • See your Podiatrist regularly for routine foot exams
  • Diabetic patients should visit their Podiatrist at a minimum of once per year
Private Practice Since 1997
American Board Of Wound Healing
The American Board of Podiatric Medicine
American Board Of Multiple Specialties In Podiatry
American Professional Wound Care Association