FOOT AND ANKLE SAFETY TIPS FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS
FROM HE EACH THE BACKYARD, TAKING CARE OF YOUR FEET AND ANKLE
othing ruins summer un faster than a problem with your feet. However, a few smart precautions can help keep you healthy and safe,” says Gretchen Lawrence, DPM, AACFAS, board-certified oot and ankl surgeon and an ssociate member of the American ollege f Foot and Ankle Surgeons ACFAS).
To el you understand some the most ommon summer isks o feet nd ow to void hem, CFAS s shar ing these insights
PUNCTURE WOUNDS
Millions go barefoot every summer, and thousands will sustain cuts and puncture wounds. To prevent injury and infection, wear hoes whenever ossible and get vaccinated against tetanus. If you do et puncture ound se a foot nd nkle urgeon within hour an don’t swim ntil t’ healed. Bacteria n oceans nd akes an cause infection.
POOL PROBLEMS
Always ea flip ps or ther ootwear in locker ooms nd n pool ecks preven contact with acteria and viruse that an cause athlete’s foot plantar wart an other problems
SUN DAMAGE AND SKIN CANCER
Don’t overlook our feet uring your un protection outine. Feet ge sunburned too, nd melanoma n th foot r ankl is ore likely be isdiagnosed than on ny ther art of he body A study published in The Journal of oot Ankle Surgery” eported th overall survival at for melanoma the foot or nkle just 2% in shar contrast the 85% survival ate for melanoma in ther reas f the body Apply sunscreen to th tops nd ottoms feet nd imit un xposure Dr. Lawrence otes, “If you spot bnorma moles or igmented kin, includin under toenails, visit a foot nd nkle surgeon. arly etection and treatmen could save your ife.”
DIABETES COMPLICATIONS
If you ave diabetes, prolonged hot and humid weather can lead numerous oot woes. Any type of skin break has the potentia to et nfected if t isn’t noticed righ away, an exposure an ause dry, racking skin Inspect your eet daily and wear losed shoe whenever ossible. Swelling another hot-weather risk, potentially making shoesfi tighter whic can cause blisters. Compression stockings ay ot ound appealing in ot em peratures, ut hey can reduce welling an help revent oor circulation. Finally, ever go arefoo in um mer. mpaire nerv sensation can make t hard o detect usthow ho surfaces re Just a fe minute walking barefoot n pavement to rab the newspaper can cause third-degree burns.
PAINS AND SPRAINS
Summer ports ca lead to arch ain, eel pain, ankl sprains and other injuries. Proper footwear with heel ushioning an arch upport es sential, articularly on neven surfaces such s sandy beache or iking trails. If injury ccurs, se he RICE pproach: est, ice, ompression nd elevation to as pain and swelling Any injury hat doesn’ re solve within ew ays should examined by oo and ankl surgeon.
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