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Healthy, Happy Feet

Stephanie Florence, DPM

Foot Fact

• The human foot has 28 bones (though some people have more or less), 33 joints, and more than 100 tendons, muscles, and ligaments.

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ANATOMY 101

Small Steps to Healthy Feet

• Basic foot care can maintain healthy feet.

• Preventing foot problems and early recognition can reduce the risk of developing more severe conditions.

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Foot Care

• Don’t ignore foot pain.

• Inspect your feet regularly.

• Trim toenails straight across, but not too short.

• Make sure that your shoes fit properly.

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Foot Fact

• There are approximately 250,000 sweat glands in a pair of feet, and they excrete as much as half a pint of moisture each day.

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Foot Care

• Select and wear the right shoe for each sport or activity.

• Alternate shoes. Don’t wear the same pair of shoes every day.

• Avoid walking barefoot.

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Foot Care

• Be cautious when using home remedies for foot ailments.

• If you are a diabetic, schedule a check-up at least once a year.

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The Aging Foot

• Thinning of the skin

• Reduced flexibility

• Less fat pad on the soles of the feet

• Walking pattern changes

• Shortened stride length

• Less flexible joints 9

Foot Fact

• The soles of your feet contain more sweat glands and sensory nerve endings per square centimeter than any other part of the body.

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Common Foot Conditions

• Bunions

• Plantar Fasciitis

• Hammer Toes

• Athletes Foot/Fungal Nails

• Arthritis

• Achilles Tendon

• Ankle Instability

• Neuroma

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Bunions/Hammer Toes

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Foot Fact

• Women are 4 times more likely to have foot problems than men are, mostly painful due to footwear.

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Plantar Fasciitis

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Athletes Foot/Fungal Nails

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Foot Fact

• The American Podiatric Medical Association states the average person takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day, which add up to 115,000 miles in a lifetime – more than 4 times the circumference of the globe.

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Arthritis

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Achilles Tendon

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Foot Fact

• 75% of Americans will experience foot problems at one time or another in their lives.

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Neuroma

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Ankle Instability

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Foot and Ankle Fractures

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Be Kind To Your Feet

• To help circulation in your feet, put them up when you’re sitting, stretching, walking, or having a gentle foot massage also helps.

• It you are sitting for a long time, stand up and move around.

• If you cross your legs when sitting, reverse or uncross them often.

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Foot Exercises

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How Can Diabetes Affect Feet?

• Loss of sensation

• Ulcers

• Change in foot structure/shape

• Blood Flow issues

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Foot Fact

• About 60-70% of diabetics will develop some form of diabetic nerve damage, which in severe forms can lead to diabetic lower limb amputation. Approximately 56,000 people a year lose their foot or leg due to diabetes.

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Happy Feet

• Take action to keep your feet healthy one step at a time.

• It is important to keep feet healthy so you can stay active and enjoy life to the fullest.

• If you are living with foot pain, we can help!

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UPMC Susquehanna Soldiers + Sailors 15 Meade Street Suite U-4

Wellsboro, PA 570-724-5297

UPMC Susquehanna Foot & Ankle Specialty Care 1201 Grampian Boulevard, Suite 2F Williamsport, PA 570-321-2020

Lock Haven 610 High Street, Lower Level Lock Haven, PA 570-321-2020

QUESTIONS?

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