June is Men’s Health Month, a national observance used to raise awareness about health care for men and focus on encouraging boys, men, and their families to practice and implement healthy living decisions, such as exercising and eating healthy. That includes men’s feet! During Men’s Health Month, we encourage men to take control of their health and for families to teach young boys healthy habits throughout childhood. Here are some helpful tips so you can do just that.

Caring for your feet is crucial. They help keep you physically active. And because they can affect the rest of the body, they provide a better quality of life. Here are some easy ways you can do that:

• Wear properly fitting footwear. During any activity, it is crucial to wear correctly fitting shoes. It can protect your feet from injury. However, it’s just as important to wear correctly fitted shoes for your day-to-day activities. Don’t wear shoes that are too small, too big, or uncomfortable just for the sake of fashion.
• Cleanse your feet each day. It’s not just about having nice smelling feet. Washing your feet is also good for maintaining foot health. Dirt and bacteria can accumulate between unwashed toes and result in issues such as Athlete’s foot.
• Avoid injury. Men who are active face the risk of ankle and foot injuries. Pay particular attention to protecting your feet. Also, never neglect pain. Foot pain is a sign something is wrong. Seeing a podiatrist can save you further complications.
• Keep your nails trimmed. One of the most common foot problems men have is ingrown toenails. Most people can avoid this condition by trimming their toenails You should cut straight across and not too deep into the edges.

As always, contact a specialist if your ankle is experiencing any discomfort or pain.

You can count on the Foot & Ankle Specialists, PC foot doctors to provide care for your feet using a full range of 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 on-site digital x-ray, and ultrasound, diabetic shoes, and digital scanning for custom orthotics.