We love our cars and take good care of them.  But often we pay little attention to  our main form of transport – our feet .

The average person walks 128,800 kms in a lifetime.  That adds up to a lot of wear and tear over  the years.

Who is most at risk ?

You feet may be in greater need of a regular check up if you

• Are over 50
• Participate regularly in sporting activities
• Have diabetes, arthritis or a circulatory condition
• Are on your feet all day at work.

You don’t have to put up with foot pain and let it restrict your mobility and health .

Many problems can be prevented by early diagnosis and treatment.

What can I do ?

Consult your Podiatrist is

• You experience troublesome pain, throbbing or itching
• You notice a discharge coming from a tear in the skin or under a mole or nail
• You have any other concerns about your feet.

Podiatrists are primary health care professionals who diagnose and treat disorders of the foot and  lower leg.

You do not need  a doctor’s referral to see a Podiatrist

When was the last time you serviced your feet?

As an employer you can prevent foot problems at work by

• Promoting foot health in your workplace
• Contracting a podiatrist  to give a talk on foot care to employees
• Encouraging  your staff members to report foot problems , no matter how  minor
• Looking at the foot health record  at your company – multiple foot complaints may suggest the workplace environment   itself  may need  addressing
• Doing a foot risk assessment in the workplace  – look for ways to minimize the burden on your  employee’s feet   ( a podiatrist may be able to assist you with assessing  workplace foot risks)
• Emphasizing  to the safety officer or occupational physician that foot complaints should be taken seriously .
• If your employees wear safety shoes , ask yourself do you stock adequate range of safety shoes to suit every staff member?  If not outsourcing  the supply and fit of safety shoes may be more cost effective.
• Allowing employees a cross over period when they exchange their old safety boots for a new pair .

Information sourced from Australian Podiatry Council  “ your podiatrist talks about feet at work”.

Regardless of your work place – office, shop ,warehouse , restaurant – comfortable , properly fitted footwear is essential to maintaining  foot health .

Appropriate footwear can protect your feet against cold, preventing them from getting wet  or by cushioning them from the impact of your job.

In many workplaces , safety shoes/ boots are necessary to protect against environmental risks but  they also need to be comfortable and correctly fitted .  Always have your feet measured . Remember that the length, width and depth of the  shoe should  all be considered .

Information sourced from the Australian Podiatry Council “ your podiatrist talks about feet at work”.

Your children’s feet

You worry about your children’s teeth and eyes and other parts of their bodies , You teach your children washing, brushing and grooming, but what do you do about their feet which are still developing and have to carry the body through a lifetime?

Many adult foot problems have their origins in childhood.

During the first year of a child’s life their feet grow rapidly, reaching almost half their adult size. By 12, a child’s foot is about 90 percent of its  adult length.  This is why podiatrists consider the early years to be the most important in the development of feet .

Neglecting foot health can also lead to problems in other parts of the body , such as legs and back.

Shoe selection is most important for people of every age.  Primarily, footwear is worn to protect the feet from  injury while daily tasks are carried out .

Shoes must fit the feet of the wearer. This is critical to avoid the many problems ill  fitting footwear can cause.

Fit factors

The shoe should be  Long enough

                                     Wide enough

                                     Deep enough

If one foot is larger than the other, fit the shoe to the larger foot . an insole can bridge the gap in a smaller shoe.

A survey through Wide Bay Podiatry showed that most people buy their shoes too small!

Keep that in  mind when you next buy shoes .

Try to shop for shoes in the afternoon when the feet tend to be larger  and always have your feet measured.  Shoes should be fitted whilst you are standing , as this is when your body weight will influence their position and fit .

Some people  find their feet change shape as they grow older.

Problems can arise from wearing particular types of footwear  eg slippers or scuffs which may cause a shuffling gait .

Shoes need to be matched to the activity you will be undertaking.  They all need to fit.

For general use and for exercise walking.

Features to look for:

Lace up ( firm hold on the foot)

Thick sole ( cushioning and non slip)

Leather upper ( better ventilation )