Given the extent to which people use their feet, it is no surprise that these are some of the most battered parts of the body—and ones that should always be taken care of.
The American Podiatric Medical Association released an article dated June 24, 2013 that stresses the importance of proper foot care and visiting a trusted podiatrist in Lansdale, or wherever else a person may live:
In 2009, the Arizona legislature voted to eliminate podiatric care reimbursement, deeming it an optional service. In the years following the announcement, what researchers at the University of Arizona College of Medicine found surprised them.
“What we found in a very short period of time,” said co-author of the study David G. Armstrong, DPM, MD, PhD, “was that compared to the previous five years, there was a 50-percent increase in severe aggregate outcomes, or SAOs—the technical term for death, amputation, sepsis, and surgical complications.”
The article also discusses that there was an increase in diabetic foot-related complications and the length of time patients stayed in hospitals. This is an alarming statistic, with implications that could reverberate all the way from Arizona to Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania is ranked 22nd out of the 50 states in terms of diabetes prevalence, with almost 11% of the state’s population diagnosed with the disease. The state is also ranked 31st in terms of obesity. Both medical conditions can lead to complications that have a negative impact on a person’s foot, including neuropathy and foot ulcers. Amputation might even be required for people with severe cases of diabetes.
This reiterates, and even renews, the importance of effective podiatry and methods such as foot surgery in Lansdale. Reputable podiatrists know the make-up of a foot and can provide solid opinions on any condition affecting it. Whether a person is suffering complications of a certain illness, or experiencing pain or inflammation in any area of the foot, these professionals can recommend a solution to help restore one’s comfort and mobility.
Feet get people to places, literally and figuratively. Thus, it is important to ensure the health of one’s feet by consulting practices like Watchel Family Foot Care to learn more about the intricacies of doing so.
(Article Excerpt and Image from Podiatric Care Study Suggests Prevention Pays, American Podiatric Medical Association, June 24, 2013)
