The holidays are a wonderful opportunity to give gifts that will maintain and improve the health of feet, ankles, and lower legs.
February is the month when men, women, and kids show their affection with cards, flowers, chocolates, and gifts. Here’s a suggestion from Cook County podiatrist Dr. Stavros O. Alexopoulos: take advantage of the opportunity to show your feet, ankles, and lower legs some love. They are among nature’s hardest-working miracles, enabling you to stand, walk, and run upright and move through your day with ease. But all too often, we neglect this part of our body. Take a few minutes today to check-in.
Begin by standing and walking across the room. Come back, sit down and point, flex, and roll your ankle. Spread and curl your toes a few times. Everything should feel good and pain-free. Discomfort can point to arthritis or any number of other conditions and should be reported to your podiatrist for diagnosis and treatment.
Next, look at your feet. Careful inspection can spot issues early before they have a chance to worsen and become more challenging to treat. First, look for changes to the skin. Redness, scaling, flaking, or itching can all be signs of fungal infection. A small bump may be a highly contagious plantar wart. A change to the shape of your foot should always be taken seriously. A bony protrusion where the big toe meets the foot may be a bunion; a toe rising up and out of line with the others may be a hammertoe. Surgery is sometimes necessary, but your foot doctor also has non-invasive options for treatment, including custom orthotics for cushioning and support.
Of course, the best thing you can do for your feet is to see an expert podiatrist like Stavros O. Alexopoulos, DPM, regularly. With years of specialized training and experience, your podiatrist is a medical expert and the best-qualified medical professional to care for this part of your body. Call the friendly My Chicago Foot Expert staff at (773) 561-8100 or click here to schedule a convenient appointment in our modern, comfortable Ravenswood office today.
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