When was the last time you made a New Year’s resolution about your feet? Never? Well, our expert podiatrists would be ecstatic if “foot care” resolutions became as common as taking out gym memberships and stocking up on fresh vegetables!

Podiatrists Dr. Heidi M. Christie and Dr. Chanda L. Day-Houts of Montgomery Foot Care Specialists want to remind you that your feet have been with you every day of your life, literally bearing your weight and making it easier for you to travel through the years. In 2019, resolve to give your feet the respect they deserve by following these 8 suggestions:

• Get new shoes. If you’ve been walking around in the same shoes since 2016, take a good, hard look at them. The uppers might look great, but chances are the heels are worn and the supportive arches have flattened out. Replace any shoes that no longer support your feet.
• Keep shoes on the low side. High heels can do a body a lot of damage. When you do wear heels, limit the number of hours and keep them at a max of 2 inches.
• Stop lifting weights in trail running shoes. Neither should you wear tennis shoes during the plyometric (jumping) moves in Zumba® class. Wear a shoe that is appropriate for the activity you’re doing.
• Treat rough skin. Use a thick moisturizer to keep the skin on your feet supple and hydrated. Rough calluses on your heels, for example, can evolve into dangerous fissures.
• Keep feet clean and dry. Wash your feet daily, and don’t forget in between your toes. Dry them thoroughly and put on clean, dry socks.
• Protect them from UV rays. When you’re out in the sun, use sunscreen on your feet, which are just as susceptible to cancer as the rest of your skin.
• Trim nails correctly. Prevent painful ingrown toenails by cutting them straight across and not too short.
• Fix a small problem before it becomes a big one. Nagging toe pain is probably going to get worse. The longer you wait, the harder it can be to treat a foot problem.

Take better care of your feet in 2019. When overly sweaty, itchy, scaly, achy, red, discolored, or twisted feet threaten to get the better of you, contact us at (334) 396-3668 or make an appointment online. We provide quality treatment for children and adults at our office in Montgomery, Alabama.