Importance of Regular Foot Exams With Your Podiatrist

Has foot health fallen to the bottom of your list of priorities? Dr. Jason Wilks and the team at Wilks Advanced Foot Care in Roseburg, OR, share why regular visits to a podiatrist are crucial in this guide.

Importance of Regular Foot Exams

 For most people, their feet don’t really cross their minds until there is a problem. Unfortunately, by that time, they are already in pain and suffering. Below, Dr. Wilks and the team at Wilks Advanced Foot Care in Roseburg, OR, explain several reasons to see a podiatrist for regular foot exams. 

Your Feet Are Complex Structures 

 The feet may seem like small parts of the body, but don’t let their size fool you. They are responsible for supporting all of your weight and your movement. They are made up of bones, ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerves, joints, fascia, and other components that help them do their jobs. 

Each of these components is at risk of injury, whether it be from overuse or an accident. And any issue in the feet can impact the rest of your body, leading to a wide range of symptoms, injuries, and more. While you can’t prevent every injury, regular foot exams can identify potential problems and help minimize your risk. 

Treatment for Current Issues

 Podiatrists see patients for a variety of issues every day. Some are obvious while others are more complicated than the patient initially realizes. In some cases, such as gait or pronation issues, the patient may never become aware on their own, which leads to a lot of pain and suffering through the years. Regular foot exams allow for detection and treatment of the following issues and more, even if the patient doesn’t yet realize there is a problem: 

• Overpronation 
• Structural issues 
• Fractures 
• Plantar fasciitis 
• Bunions 
• Athlete’s foot 
• Ingrown toenails 
• Corns and calluses 
• Nerve damage 
• Heel spurs 
• Ankle sprains 

Exams Can Detect Health Conditions 

 You might not realize it, but many health conditions impact the feet. Nerve damage, diabetes, and poor blood circulation, for example, can lead to numbness, discoloration, tingling, and other issues. Through regular foot exams, such health conditions can be detected and diagnosed. 

Guidance for Foot Health 

 Regular foot exams also allow podiatrists to assess habits, footwear, and other factors that might harm your foot health. They can provide personalized recommendations on any changes you might need to make that can keep your feet healthy and functioning properly. 

It’s time to make your foot health a priority. Schedule an appointment with our podiatrist Dr. Wilks at Wilks Advanced Foot Care in Roseburg, OR, by calling (541) 673-0742 today.