The long cold months of winter are finally over. The spring is here, and people are starting to get back outdoors to enjoy the sun. Runners have been waiting for this season. However, running can cause a lot of wear and tear on your feet. As a runner, there are a number of things you can do to safeguard your feet. 

 

Follow these 3 tips to make sure your feet are ready to run this season:

 

1-CHECK IF YOU NEED NEW RUNNING SHOES

How often you need to replace your running shoes will depend on how often you run, but in general, you should plan to get a new pair every six months. This is because when you run your shoes undergo more impact and overall wear than your non-athletic footwear. If you happen to run a lot or happen to be an athlete who trains often, then you may want to replace your running shoes more often.

 

2-GET THE RIGHT SHOES

 

When choosing the right pair of shoes for running there are a few things to keep in mind. The most important thing is that they offer proper support. To test them out take the shoe in your hand and try to bend it in half. You want it to bend in the front where the toes are, but not in the middle or back of the shoes. Also, make sure the fit is not too tight, walk around in it first before purchasing. Make sure the toes have plenty of room to wiggle and flex.

 

3-DEALING WITH BLISTERS

 

Blisters can be a common issue for runners. They occur because of friction, for example when the foot rubs up against the sock or shoes. The best way to prevent blisters is to wear properly fitting socks and footwear. Make sure your socks have an intact heel area and they don’t bunch up on the foot. If a shoe does cause friction in a particular place, you can cover that area of your foot with an adhesive bandage to prevent it from rubbing against the shoe, as a temporary fix. Temporary because it’s best to have footwear that fits properly and doesn’t cause uncomfortable friction.

 

If you have any pain or notice a physical change in your feet, it’s vital to see one of our experienced podiatrists right away.

 

You can count on the Foot & Ankle Specialists, PC foot doctors to provide care for your feet using a full range of both conservative and surgical therapies. Our expert team, including board-certified podiatrists Dr. Scott E. Hughes, Dr. Greg P. Vogt, and Dr. Christine I. Tumele, serve patients of all ages with state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment technologies including onsite digital x-ray, ultrasound, diabetic shoes, and digital scanning for custom orthotics.

For any questions or to make an appointment, please contact us at one of our Southeast Michigan facilities in Monroe at 734-241-0200, and Lambertville at 734-856-8900, in Bedford and Monroe counties. Don’t forget we make house calls.