Page 116 - South Mississippi Living - April, 2022

HEALTHY LIVING
THE FUNCTION
Protect Your Family’s Feet This Spring
story by Dr. Charles Caplis photo courtesy of Foot Specialists of South Mississippi
DR. CHARLES CAPLIS Foot Specialists of South Mississippi
Spring has sprung and summer is around the corner. This typically means fun in the sun, active days at the beach, and family vacations. The types of shoe gear we choose to wear this time of year is so important to help prevent foot and ankle injuries.
We all tend to like flip flops starting around this time of year, or minimalist style shoes with no backs, and our kids even like going barefoot as well. Thin or flat flip flops can cause many types of foot and ankle issues, including stress fractures, heel pain, arch pain, neuromas, posterior tibial tendinitis, and lateral ankle instability. These injuries can be prevented with proper sandals instead of thin flip flops. Make sure the sandal has thicker arch support and is made of a good quality material that has a thicker bottom and will not wear out by the end of the
spring or summer season. Examples of good sandal companies are Keen for men and women and Fit Flops or Vionic/Orthaheel for women.
Open back shoes are easy to slip on, however, they tend to lack enough heel stability for when it strikes the ground, causing instability of the foot and potential tendinitis. These style of open back shoes when worn frequently throughout the day can also cause skin issues to the surrounding heel. These types of shoes may be a good option for an easy and comfortable “house” shoe, but are not always the best for active wear. A good brand to consider is Merrell.
Dry, cracking skin of the heels, and sometimes even deeper fissures, can cause deeper wounds and need to be treated with antibiotics and proper topical medication.
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
116 | April 2022