Ailments widespread, yet few people address issues

Olympia WA 12/3/2015. The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) today announced the results of its Today’s Podiatrist survey, which measures the public’s attitudes toward foot health. The study, which surveyed 1,000 US adults ages 18 and older, found the majority of Americans say they have experienced foot pain (77 percent), but only a third of those would seek expert care by a podiatrist.

Foot pain can have a profound impact on quality of life. Half of all adults say that foot pain has restricted their activities—like walking, exercising, working, or playing with grandchildren—in some way. For those with chronic foot pain, that number jumps to 83 percent. People say they would exercise more (39 percent) and participate in more activities (41 percent) if it weren’t for their foot pain.

While foot ailments are widespread, familiarity and experience with the podiatrists who treat them is considerably lower. Most adults would speak with their primary care physician (60 percent) or do a Web search (48 percent) to answer questions about foot health before considering a visit to a podiatrist.

“Podiatrists are physicians, surgeons, and specialists. They’re ready and able to treat diseases, injuries, and deformities of the foot and ankle, as well as the foot problems Americans experience most often: heel pain, plantar fasciitis, nail fungus, and foot odor,” said APMA member Kelley Gillroy D.P.M. “They can also catch signs of diabetes, arthritis, and nerve and circulatory disorders, all of which can be detected in the feet.”

The good news: Among those who have visited a podiatrist, 88 percent said their podiatrist was able to quickly provide a clear diagnosis, and 76 percent said their podiatrist was able to prescribe an effective treatment regimen and/or medication that helped their foot- or ankle-related issues improve or go away.

In addition, more than a third (34 percent) of those who visited a podiatrist said their podiatrist helped identify another health-related issue they had, such as diabetes, circulatory problems, or nerve issues. Those who have visited a podiatrist are also extremely satisfied with their care; in fact, more are satisfied than those who sought out a primary care physician for foot care.

“Foot pain is never normal, and it’s critical that anyone experiencing chronic pain seeks care from an expert,” said Kelley Gillroy DPM

Treatment for foot pain in Thurston county is available at Kelley Gillroy’s practice— Cascade Foot and Ankle Clinic. To schedule an appointment or talk to one of Dr. Gillroy’s staff, call (360)438-9092 or visit cascadefootandankleclinic.com for more information.

For detailed survey findings, including an infographic on high heel pain, visit the APMA website.

The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) is the nation’s leading professional organization for today’s podiatrists. Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (DPMs) are qualified by their education, training, and experience to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle, and structures of the leg. APMA has 53 state component locations across the United States and its territories, with a membership of more than 12,000 podiatrists. All practicing APMA members are licensed by the state in which they practice podiatric medicine. For more information, visit www.apma.org.

Kelley Gillroy DPM

Cascade Foot and Ankle Clinic

Diabetes can be dangerous to your feet. To avoid serious foot problems, follow these prevention tips:

• Inspect your feet daily. Check for cuts, blisters, redness, swelling, bleeding or nail problems.
• Use a magnifying hand mirror to look at the bottoms of your feet (if your eyesight is poor, ask someone to check your feet for you). Call our office to schedule an appointment if you notice any unusual symptoms.
• Wash your feet in lukewarm water. Keep your feet clean by washing them daily in lukewarm, not hot, water. If you have numbness in your toes or feet, test the water temperature with your elbow because you may also have numbness in your hands.
• See your podiatrist for routine nail care and callus care. If you cannot do this, cut nails carefully and straight across. Don’t cut nails too short since this could cause ingrown toenails. Also, file nail edges.
• Never trim corns or calluses. Don’t perform “bathroom surgery”—let your foot and ankle surgeon do the job. Don’t use sharp instruments to cut at anything on your feet. Even small cuts can lead to big problems.
• Moisturize your feet. Use a moisturizer daily to keep dry skin from itching or cracking.
• However, don’t use moisturizer between your toes, as this could lead to fungal infection.
• Wear socks to bed. If your feet get cold at night, wear thin socks without tight elastic bands.
• Never use a heating pad or a hot water bottle to keep your feet warm in bed. Cold feet can be a sign of poor circulation—bring this up with your physician
• Keep your feet warm and dry. Don’t get your feet wet in snow or rain. Wear warm socks and shoes in the winter and also make sure your footwear is dry before putting it on.
• Shake out your shoes and boots before wearing. You may not always feel something in your shoe, so be sure to look inside before putting them on. Do this several times a day in case you pick something up inside your shoe during the day.
• Get regular checkups at our office. We can help you prevent diabetic foot complications before they start.