Our feet are the hardest-working parts of our bodies, but we rarely think about them until they start to ache (unless you’re part of our team at New Jersey Podiatric Physicians & Surgeons Group). You see, our feet aren’t in good standing all the time, and it takes conscious effort to keep them continuously healthy… especially as we age. So, if you want to keep your feet feeling good and moving well, here are five big things you should pay attention to.
1. The Shoes You Wear
The shoes you choose are your feet’s foundation, so wearing a pair that doesn’t fit you well is an easy way to jeopardize it. Kids whose feet are constantly outgrowing their shoes, or people who simply don’t care about the lack of cushion, are susceptible to this.
Zero support can lead straight to painful problems like plantar fasciitis, bunions, arch problems, and even gait abnormalities. You don’t have to sacrifice style, but you must prioritize support, arch alignment, and enough room for your toes to wiggle.
2. Your Weight and Lifestyle
Simply put, the more weight you carry, the harder your feet have to work. Every extra pound magnifies the pressure on your heels and arches and tissues.
This is a common cause of severe heel pain and the collapse of the arch over time. Keeping a healthy weight significantly reduces this mechanical stress, makes your feet feel lighter, and reduces the risk of conditions like arthritis and tendonitis.
Staying active also improves circulation, which is great for foot health!
3. Your Circulation
Yeah, blood flow. Let’s talk about it. Foot health is heavily dependent on it.
Think of your circulation as your foot’s lifeline. Conditions that impair blood flow, like Peripheral Artery Disease or long-standing diabetes, are the biggest threats to your feet.
Poor circulation means your feet struggle to heal and fight off infection, so if you notice coldness, slow-healing cuts, or numbness, it’s a red flag that your body’s pumping needs immediate attention.
4. Your Daily Foot Hygiene
Want a simple way to avoid athlete’s foot, toenail fungus, and a host of other bacterial, fungal, and viral infections? Wash your feet! Need we say more?
5. Your Genetic Blueprint
We just wrote about this. Now you can blame your parents for some of your foot problems!
Seriously, though, genetics plays a huge role in determining your foot structure, from the shape of your arch (whether you have flat feet or high arches) to the way your ligaments move.
This genetic blueprint also determines your susceptibility to common deformities like bunions or specific types of arthritis. If you know bunions run in your family, you can be proactive by using custom orthotics to correct those inherited structural flaws before they become painful.
If you’re worried about your foot pain, come see the expert team at New Jersey Podiatric Physicians & Surgeons Group. With more than 30 locations, from Newark, NJ, to Cape May, NJ, we value convenience and excellent service for our patients. To schedule an appointment, first find a podiatrist in your area.
