WSFA-TV News recently ran a story about a freak accident on I-65 here in Montgomery. A guy driving along had his windshield smashed to pieces when he crashed into a bulky piece of metal – a trailer hitch that had detached from someone else’s car and was just sitting on the highway.

The story stressed the importance of properly securing trailer hitches to your car, which certainly would have helped the poor driver avoid the accident (nobody was hurt, miraculously). What the news anchors didn’t mention was the skill of the driver, which no doubt played a part in the reasonably happy ending. Licensed drivers are trained to expect the unexpected.

In the same way that driver education helps drivers learn to steer clear of danger, all of us at Montgomery Foot Care Specialists work to help our patients stay educated about their foot health. We don’t know what’s coming down the road, especially as we age, but can still take reasonable steps toward preventing foot problems.

Here are some foot issues that can take patients by surprise:

• Overuse injuries like stress fractures, plantar fasciitis, and tendonitis can sneak up on those who fail to vary their workouts. Yes, running 5 miles a day will keep you in shape, but it puts the same pressure in the same places of your feet over and over. Better to cross-train, adding swimming and other non-weight bearing exercises into your routine to give your feet a break.
• Mechanical issues caused by wearing the wrong size shoes, wearing high heels too often, or ignoring ankles that overpronate (turn in as you walk) can be controlled by consulting our podiatrists on proper footwear and the benefits of orthotics.
• Weight gain. Feet flatten out under the stress of extra pounds. Bones are stressed and you are prone to getting diabetes – one of the worst things that can happen to your feet. Ask our doctors – Heidi M. Christie, DPM and Chandra L. Day-Houts, DPM – about proper nutrition to prevent weight gain and all the foot problems that can come with it.

Of course, all the prevention in the world doesn’t mean that you’ll have a life free from foot problems. That trailer hitch may still show up on the highway. But when pain and suffering do crop up, make an appointment with us for informed, expert care. You can reach Dr. Christie and Dr. Day-Houts in our Montgomery office at (334) 396-3668.