“It sounds silly” says foot and ankle surgeon Dr William Edwards, “but we rarely appreciate how important they are. We tend to stick them in shoes and forget about them.”

October 15 to 21 is Foot Health Week, so if you too are guilty of neglecting them, now is the time to pay your feet some attention.

Able-bodied people need only look at the added challenge posed by not being able to get around on two healthy feet. As Dr Edwards illustrated by way of analogy, try carrying a coffee while you’re on crutches.

Additionally, he says “exercise is vital” and “walking is one of the best natural antidepressants we can get”, so you really should do all you can to avoid any preventable issues with your feet.

GENERAL CARE

For most people general care is pretty straightforward; clean them regularly, dry them properly, cut nails straight across, ensure footwear fits properly, and don’t ignore niggling injuries.

However, as we age, it can get more difficult to look after our feet. Bending to them is more challenging, and seeing them in detail can also fade. Dead nerves and poor blood supply also means the feeling in our feet fades, so we don’t notice minor injuries as easily.

In addition to your own feet, it’s important to check on any older persons in your life to make sure theirs are also being cared for properly, and regularly.

More than simply rectifying issues after they emerge, podiatrists are quite willing to prevent them, such as cutting nails and checking their maintenance for people who now find it too difficult to check themselves.

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DIABETIC CARE

People with diabetes already have an issue with their feet. In fact, a podiatrist can usually detect the onset of diabetes earlier than any other practitioner.

As Dr Edwards explained, diabetes affects the collagen in your body which in turn affects the blood supply. Your skin becomes more brittle, your sweat glands don’t work as well, and you get injured more easily but you’re not able to feel it as easily.

A startling number of people have a toe, foot or leg amputated as a result of poor management of their diabetes, and it’s often a downward spiral. “There is extra pressure on the remaining foot” so more than half of those amputees would need to have the other one removed within five years.

However, with vigilance from their practitioners says Dr Edwards, more diabetics can keep both their feet. 

PLEASE STOP SMOKING

On the subject of circulation, Dr Edwards said – somewhat pleadingly – “you’ve got to stop smoking”.

Along with all the other health issues it causes, he says the combination of smoking with another issue like diabetes or ageing or injury makes your likelihood of having further problems with your feet exponentially greater. “The complication rate of surgery in the back of the foot in smokers, there’s a paper that says it’s 18.6 times higher.”

FOOTWEAR THAT FITS

Improper footwear can cause a variety of issues, in the foot itself and further up the skeletal system.

For the sake of the feet, the shoes need to be wide enough around the toes to avoid putting undue pressure on them. That goes for heels too, so make sure they also fit properly. Plus, heels can cause cause other problems so don’t stand on them for hours on end.

Dr Edwards suggested you could wear the heels for the grand entrance to a party or for a short meeting, but slip on something more comfortable for the rest of the day or on the dance floor.

Sports shoes, meanwhile, should be discarded at regular intervals. “They lose elasticity and their cushioning effect” because “the rubber deteriorates over time,” he says. As a guide, Dr Edwards replaces his every six to nine months. 

MANAGING INJURIES

At the time of injury, Dr Edwards says it’s important to apply normal first aid, such as ice. The majority of these minor injuries will then heal as expected.

In a small number of cases though, Dr Edwards sees patients whose seemingly small injuries just don’t appear to recover normally.

You shouldn’t ignore these minor complaints, especially if they reoccur or linger.

Your GP or podiatrist can also refer you to a surgeon for their specialist opinion, and help determine if surgery or perhaps another treatment is best for you.