Most New Year’s resolutions focus on diet or exercise, but what about the body parts that carry you through all those workouts and daily activities? Your feet log thousands of steps every single day, yet they usually don’t make the top of your resolution list.
Ryan Goldfine, DPM, at Ankle & Foot Centers of Georgia, with two locations in Marietta, Georgia, is sharing seven foot-focused resolutions that can help you avoid injuries and stay active in the year ahead.
You expect your pant size to change with age — not your shoe size. But weight fluctuations, pregnancy, aging, and years of wear can alter your foot shape and size.
Pay attention to how shoes feel when you try them on. A properly fitting shoe should have:
Wearing shoes that are too tight contributes to bunions, hammertoes, corns, and calluses that only get worse the longer you ignore them. Even if you are wearing the right size, make sure to invest in new athletic shoes every 300-500 miles of activity.
Exercise is good for you, but your feet need time to recover between high-impact activities. Running, jumping, and intense cardio sessions stress your bones, tendons, and ligaments. Without adequate rest, that stress accumulates and can lead to fractures, tendonitis, or inflammation.
Plan at least one or two rest days each week, or alternate between high-impact and low-impact activities. Swimming, cycling, and yoga give your feet a break while still keeping you active. If you’re training for a race, gradually increase your mileage instead of ramping up too quickly.
Ingrown toenails and fungal infections seem like minor annoyances until they become painful enough to interfere with your daily activities. Trying to fix these problems yourself with bathroom surgery often makes them worse and increases your risk of infection.
Dr. Goldfine can treat fungal infections with prescription medications and remove painful portions of the nail if necessary. Getting professional care early prevents these issues from turning into bigger problems that require antibiotics or more invasive treatment.
Sharp heel pain when you first get out of bed is one of the hallmark signs of plantar fasciitis. The thick band of tissue along the bottom of your foot becomes inflamed from overuse, poor footwear, or the way your foot strikes the ground when you walk.
Dr. Goldfine offers multiple ways to treat plantar fasciitis depending on how severe your symptoms are. Stretching exercises, custom orthotics, and anti-inflammatory injections can all help resolve the inflammation without surgery.
Ankle sprains happen easily — you step off a curb wrong, land awkwardly during a workout, or twist your foot on uneven ground. The pain usually subsides after a few days, but that doesn’t mean your ankle has healed properly. Untreated sprains can leave your ankle weak and unstable, increasing your risk of spraining it again.
Even mild sprains benefit from proper treatment:
If your ankle doesn’t improve within a few days, schedule an appointment. Dr. Goldfine can determine whether you need imaging, a walking boot, or physical therapy to heal properly.
Thick patches of dead skin on your feet develop in areas that experience repeated friction or pressure. Filing them down temporarily makes them feel better, but they’ll keep coming back unless you address the underlying cause.
Corns and calluses often signal that your shoes don’t fit right, your gait is uneven, or you have a structural issue like a bunion or hammertoe. Trying to remove them yourself can lead to infection. Dr. Goldfine can remove built-up skin and identify why it’s forming in the first place.
Over-the-counter insoles provide some cushioning, but they don’t correct the biomechanical problems that cause foot pain and increase your injury risk. Custom orthotics are designed specifically for your foot structure, walking pattern, and activity level.
If you have flat feet, high arches, or conditions like plantar fasciitis, orthotics can redistribute pressure, improve alignment, and reduce strain on your joints.
Small changes to how you care for your feet can prevent injuries. If you're starting the year with foot pain or want to address problems before they get worse, our team can help.
Call 678-552-1108 or request an appointment online today.
