Page 17 - MPMA Profiles Summer 2023

Women take better care of their feet, however have more pain with high heels
PEOPLE MOST OFTEN NEGLECT THEIR FEET
People most often schedule annual checkups for their teeth and eyes, but not their feet. That’s according to a survey done by the American Podiatric Medial Association.
The APMA surveyed nearly 1,300 adults and found 75% of those surveyed had an issue with their feet from excess sweating, odor, and nail problems, to painful issues including bunions or stress fractures. Fifty percent of those surveyed said they had se- vere enough foot issues that prevented them from being active.
“Not taking care of your feet can be life altering,” said Joyce Patouhas, DPM. “A regular foot checkup can help prevent com- mon age related foot issues. Healthy feet allow you to keep an
active life style.”
Harvard Medical School sited APMA’s study and noted a bigger problem—people don’t know who to turn to when they’re expe- riencing a foot problem. “Medical doctors don’t typically receive specific training on foot problems in medical school,” according to Marian T. Hannan, professor of medicine at Harvard Medi-
cal School. “And most people don’t think to go to a podiatrist unless they have diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis.”
The APMA survey found more women take better care of their feet than men, however they also had more pain, with high heels being the No. 1 cause of that pain.
“Not taking care of your feet can be life altering.”
— Joyce Patouhas, DPM MPMA Past President
Continued on pg. 18
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