Keep Feet Safe When You Travel This Summer
Ah, summertime! The weather’s warm and, as George Gershwin wrote in his famous song, the living is easy. Many patients are taking advantage of the opportunity to travel, often by air. Flying is fun and exciting, but can be rough on the feet, ankles, and lower legs. Here are some tips to help you stay safe before, during, and after your next trip:
Getting a pedicure to get ready for your vacation? Prevent toenail fungus and other infections. Choose a salon with excellent hygiene practices, including disposable basin liners. Bring your own tools to prevent transmission of illness.
At the airport, wear a comfortable pair of shoes with a wide, roomy toe box and non-skid soles to prevent a fall. If you’ll be taking your shoes off at security, wear socks to stay safe from athlete’s foot and other infections. Don’t walk barefoot where thousands of others do!
Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water during your flight to prevent edema (swelling) and painful muscle cramps.
Get up and walk around periodically to avoid potentially dangerous Deep Vein Thrombosis, a blood clot that can develop in the legs. This is especially critical if you’ve been diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency, a condition related to the veins in the legs.
Bring a small Foot First Aid kit to take care of any issues that might come up while you travel. Include a few different sizes of bandages, antibiotic ointment, moleskin to prevent and manage blisters, an instant icepack and wrap bandage, and tweezers to remove foreign objects.
The best thing you can do to protect foot health before and after your trip is to see your board-certified podiatrist. With years of specialized training and experience, a foot doctor is the best-qualified doctor to examine, diagnose, and treat this part of your body.
Contact James C. Ricketti, DPM and let us address all your foot and ankle needs. Our board-certified podiatrist will tailor treatments based on your individual needs and with our state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment options, we’ll help you get back on your feet in no time! Call our office today at 609-587-1674 to make an appointment at our conveniently located Hamilton, NJ office.