Foot Care for Seniors

Foot Care for Seniors

Problems with your feet can have a significant impact on your quality of life. This is especially true if you are a senior. It is important at any age to take proper care of your feet but as we age, we can become more susceptible to certain foot problems. Observing proper foot care for you or for an elderly loved one is essential for your foot health and for the prevention of serious complications.

Foot specialist, Dr. Tejas Pandya helps many elderly patients take care of their feet. Foot problems can be the first sign of a serious underlying condition. Conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, circulatory disorders and nerve issues can manifest in the feet. This makes regular visits to a podiatrist an important part of your health care.

Foot sores, ingrown toenails and athlete’s foot are just a few examples of foot problems that can arise without proper attention to feet. Ignoring or having an inability to care for these types of problems could lead to serious complications.

Dr. Pandya offers the following helpful foot care tips for seniors:

• Avoid smoking, which contributes to poor circulation and increases the chance of swelling
• Wear comfortable shoes that fit well, alleviate pressure on feet and promote good balance
• Encourage good circulation by putting feet up when resting, walking or taking a warm footbath
• Avoid exposing your feet to extreme temperatures
• Avoid sitting for long periods of time
• Practice proper, daily foot care and ask for assistance if needed.

Small problems can turn serious quickly so if you are a senior with foot pain or noticing unusual symptoms, please contact our office as soon as possible. You can call our office in Troy, NY (518) 273-0053 or request an appointment online.

The A, B, C’s of Children’s Foot Care

Taking care of your body when you are young often pays off in many ways as you get older. Wearing sunscreen and limiting exposure keeps your skin youthful and lessens risks of skin cancer. Avoiding smoking keeps lungs clear and healthy and eating well maintains healthy weight and provides the necessary nutrients your body needs.

The same is true for foot health and it often starts in childhood. Since children aren’t always aware, it is important for parents to know how to keep their children’s feet healthy and help them avoid problems later in life.

Walking on toes or having feet turned in (in-toeing) are common in children but if these symptoms persist, it is important to seek treatment. Dr. Tejas Pandya, foot specialist in Troy, NY has treated many children and often something as simple as orthotics can help correct these problems. 

The growth plates in children’s bones actually don’t finish closing until between the ages of 13-17. Because of this, children’s feet are more at risk for injury if there is too much stress put on them. Dr. Pandya advises parents to closely monitor their children’s feet if they are in sports and to limit how many sports are played at one time. Children may not complain of pain if they are really competitive and others may mention the slightest of symptoms. In either case, take note of your children’s activities and seek treatment as soon as anything is noticed.

A couple other important tips are to make sure your children are clipping toenails in a way to avoid ingrown toenails and help them choose good footwear. Their feet are constantly growing so check their foot size often and provide them with supportive shoes for school and for sport.

Contact Dr. Pandya at Capital District Podiatry if your child has any foot needs. Call our podiatric office at (518) 273-0053 or visit our website at www.capitaldistrictpodiatry.com to schedule an appointment.

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Tips to Keep Your Running Feet Healthy

Running can be very intense and take a toll on your entire body - particularly your feet. Your feet bear the weight of your whole body every day as you walk, stand and run. Running may leave your feet sore and can put them at risk for many foot ailments.

In order to prevent injuries caused by running, Dr. Tejas Pandya has come up with some tips to improve the health of your feet.  They include the following:

• Cut your toenails. Your toenails should be trimmed on a weekly basis. Toenails should not exceed the ends of your toes and should be cut straight across. Cutting on a curve at the ends of the toenail can lead to painful ingrown toenails. Toenails that are too long can be irritated by your shoes or other toes while you run.

• Exercise your feet and toes. It’s important to exercise your entire body, but it is also important to pay special attention to areas like your feet and toes. Your feet are often ignored when it comes to exercise despite the fact that they do so much work for you day after day. You can perform simple exercises to keep your feet healthy, such as rolling your foot on a tennis ball, moving each toe individually and pivoting your ankles in order to strengthen muscles.

• Wash your feet. You should wash your feet on a daily basis to keep them clean, healthy and infection free. Make sure to wash with warm water and soap. It’s also important to dry your feet completely especially between all of your toes so you do not develop fungal infections.

• Stretch. Stretching helps keep your muscles from tightening. You should stretch at least 2-3 times every day. Try to stretch out your feet by pointing your toes to the ceiling and then the floor while holding for at least ten seconds. Make sure to alternate between each foot. You can also stretch your toes by lifting and pointing each toe individually.

• Rest. Running can tire your feet out so it’s important to rest your feet. Try running on non-consecutive days so you have days to rest your feet in between. If you experience pain from running take more time to rest while icing and elevating your feet.

If you experience pain, or an injury, as a result of running contact our office at (518) 273-0053 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Pandya.

Resources:

http://www.fitsugar.com/Tips-Ease-Sore-Runners-Feet-Prevent-Injury-22125091

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