Your Ridgefield, CT podiatrist, Dr. Allan Rosenthal, takes special interest in aging feet. Yes, our feet do change over the years, but with routine podiatric exams, in-office care as needed and regular attention to our ankles and feet at home, we all can keep walking and enjoying happy lives. Read here about how to care for your feet as you age.

Sobering Thoughts

Our lower extremities literally carry us through life. The US National Center for Health Statistics says that neglected foot care leads to immobility in a vast number of elderly people, and unfortunately, immobility impacts overall health and well-being.

So it's vital for all of us to pay attention to our feet and ankles on a daily basis, looking for typical foot conditions that the senior population experiences:

• Deformities such as hammertoes and bunions
• Decreased thickness of the natural padding on the soles of the feet
• Arthritis
• Brittle nails
• Dry skin
• Corns and calluses
• Decreased circulation related to peripheral artery disease and diabetes
• Heel pain (plantar fasciititis and heel bone spurs)
• Ankle instability related to sprains and fractures

What your Ridgefield podiatrist advises

Dr. Rosenthal asks his patients to practice good foot care at home, including:

• Washing and drying your feet daily
• Wearing clean socks and well-fitting, supportive shoes
• Trimming the toenails straight across with a clean clippers (to avoid ingrown nails)
• Applying moisturizer such as lanolin to the feet, toes and ankles
• Not self-treating ingrown nails, corns, warts or calluses (come to Advanced Foot Care Center)
• Wearing quality shoes with ample room in the toes and good arch support
• Limiting heel height to 2 inches or less
• Observing and reporting any changes in skin color, texture and temperature or in the shape or color of toenails
• Exercising every day (simple walking or swimming is great)
• Elevating your feet above heart level when they feel tired
• Not sitting with your legs crossed as this impedes circulation
• Not going out of doors barefoot
• Wearing flip flops or shower sandals poolside or in the gym locker room to avoid injuries, athlete's foot fungus and the virus which causes plantar warts

Come see us

Whatever your health status, a regular podiatric exam is key to keeping your lower extremities strong for years to come. To arrange your routine check-up with your Ridgefield podiatrist, call Advanced Foot Care Center at (203) 431-0048.