Here’s how you can keep your feet and ankles healthy – without visiting the doctor
It’s reassuring to know that modern, advanced health care offers plenty of effective tools to correct common ailments and get us back on our feet. And while breaks, sprains, bruises, cuts, and more can result in a doctor’s visit, there are a number of things you can do on your own to keep your feet and ankles happy and out of the doctor’s office.

Proactive podiatry care focuses on the ways that you can support your lower extremities to prevent serious injuries and ailments. Here are some preventative care recommendations from the experts at Balance Foot & Ankle:

• Invest in quality, proper-fitting shoes: If there’s one aspect of your wardrobe to not go cheap on, it’s the shoes on your feet. Taking the time to find a quality shoe that not only fits you properly, but meets the needs of your lifestyle, is a critical step to prevent foot and ankle pain. Avoid the big stores and seek out a local shoe retailer that will take the time to look at your feet size, analyze your foot strike, and consider your footwear needs to help you find a pair that’s right for you. Balance also offers custom-fitted orthotics in partnership with Earthwalk Orthotics, a conservative intervention that can add additional comfort and support to your shoes
• Warmup before exercise: Whether it’s chasing your kids around the backyard, going for a run, or meeting your friends for a game of pickup basketball, it’s important to always make the time to warm up before jumping into action. The idea of a warm up is to gradually “fire up” the muscles you’ll be utilizing for a particular activity, and it can be as simple as progressing from a slow walk for a few minutes to a faster pace before a run.
• Strengthen your ankles at home: No gym or special equipment is required to build and maintain strong feet and ankles. By getting the habit of routinely strengthening and mobilizing your ankles, you can stay ahead of common injuries and ailments. Check out our article that walks you through several simple, at-home exercises
• Enlist the R.I.C.E. method: No matter how careful you are, accidents still happen. It could be a twisted ankle while hiking on an uneven trail or dropping a heavy object on your foot that can leave you with notable pain and discomfort. Short of a serious injury, you can likely recover fully on your own within a matter of days or weeks by following the time-tested “R.I.C.E.” method, which stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation.

Following these steps diligently will go a long way in keeping your feet happy and out of the doctor’s office. But there are still instances when injuries are serious and can’t be treated at home. If you’ve tried the above strategies and are still held back by pain or discomfort, it might be time to speak with a medical professional. Here’s a guide to helping you decide if it’s time to schedule a visit with Balance Foot & Ankle.

Let us restore your balance.

If you notice the discomfort in your heels persisting, our trusted team of podiatrists at Balance Foot & Ankle can work with you to alleviate the pain by customizing a treatment plan to your lifestyle.

Schedule your appointment today!