EP #5: Optimizing Foot Health As We Age

Think about how many thousands of miles we put on our feet each year. Now, consider the myriad of issues that can arise as we age. This episode is a deep dive into the world of foot health as we get older, featuring a candid chat with your hosts, Dr. Lauren Dabakaroff and Jeremy Wolf. They debunk common myths, ascertain the pros and cons of barefoot walking, and reveal the value of custom orthotics in redistributing foot pressure. You'll learn about fat pad atrophy and why moisturizing your feet is not as frivolous as it sounds. This episode is a treasure trove of practical advice for anyone interested in maintaining their mobility and foot comfort.

Don't put off caring for your feet until problems arise. In this enlightening conversation, Dr. Lauren and Jeremy discuss the importance of early intervention and adopting a holistic approach to foot care. From the benefits of foot massages to the role of a balanced diet and regular exercise, they delve into solutions that can keep your feet feeling great at any age. Whether you're already experiencing foot issues or simply want to ensure optimal foot health as you age, this episode is a must-listen. Make the most of the insights from our podiatry experts and start prioritizing your foot health today.

To learn more, visit: LMDpodiatry.com or contact [phone]

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to the LMD Pediatry podcast.
Trust us to get back on yourfeet.
Here's your host, Dr LaurenDevakarov.

Jeremy (00:15):
Hello, episode number five of the LMD Pediatry podcast
.
Your co-host, jeremy Wolfe.
I'm joined by your host, drLauren Devakarov.
Dr Lauren, fancy meeting youagain here so soon.

Dr. Lauren (00:30):
Oh yeah.

Jeremy (00:33):
So we were just talking a little bit about orthotics and
I thought you know I'm on theother side of 40 and I'm getting
older.
I'm not quite old, quite thatold yet, but you know time flies
and I'm getting there.
Can you share with listeners alittle bit about what to expect
kind of age related changes inthe feet as we get older?

(00:56):
What are some things to lookout for, you know, and some
things to keep on your mind tomake sure that you have optimal
foot health moving into yourlater years in life.

Dr. Lauren (01:07):
Later years in life.
You've even hit 50 yet andyou're already.

Jeremy (01:13):
like I mean, I'm looking towards the future here.

Dr. Lauren (01:15):
Come on the generation is very scared of
aging.
It's very interesting to see.
Actually it's all across theboard.
I see like 35 year olds gettingBotox injections and things
like that, but for the foot it'sa hot, it's a whole another
ballgame.
So just to keep you, just togive you an idea, you walk every

(01:39):
day.
You put thousands and thousandsof miles on your feet a year,
whether you're active or not.
You're going to the grocerystore, you're going to the mall,
you're taking, walking throughsecurity to get on the plane and
walking all around Italy.
Everybody's living life and soare your feet, okay.
So so what happens to the footas you age?

(02:02):
The number one thing that isseen is fat pad atrophy.

Jeremy (02:09):
And then had fat pad atrophy.
You said yeah, Okay.

Dr. Lauren (02:12):
So fat pad atrophy.
It basically means that the fatpad on the bottom of your foot
that you have like a really bigfat pad and then you have a
little one on the tips of tip ofeach toe and what those?
What that fat pad does is whenyou're young it's very nice and
plump and then it's heldtogether.

(02:33):
The fat is held together bycollagen and then as you age the
collagen is not as elasticanymore.
Like you know, we get wrinklesand things like that.
So the same thing kind ofhappens to your foot.
It almost feels like you'rewalking on your joints on your
bone as you get older.
So the best way to kind ofmaintain that's going to happen

(02:57):
anyway, but the best way to, youknow, maintain a nice, healthy,
good foot, wearing proper shoes, keeping your feet moisturized
that's very important.
That's something that peopleneglect a lot.
Like it's Florida, we all wearsandals, our feet get dry and if

(03:19):
you want to kind of maintainthe integrity of your skin and
you want to make sure thateverything is nice and supple
and soft, the best thing to dois to moisturize every day.
Don't use the lotion, use acream.
There's prescription cream,there's over the countercream.
Basically, if you nourish theskin.

(03:41):
It helps a lot with preventingcracks and fissures and things
like that which can causeinfection, and then wearing
proper shoes helps the integrityof the fat pad as well.
I'm very against barefootwalking in general.

Jeremy (04:03):
I was going to ask you about that because I've heard
many, many things talking abouthow that's good for your feet to
some degree to get out thereand not always Barefoot walking
is great, like at the beach.
Just not only treatment or hotcoals.

Dr. Lauren (04:21):
Yes, exactly it helps.
So, walking barefoot, obviously, if you're not extremely obese,
that's another story foranother day.
But a normal, young, healthyadult, the best thing, the only
time you should walk barefoot,is walking around the beach in

(04:41):
the sand, because what that doesis it helps you use all the
muscles inside your foot thatdon't get used when you wear a
shoe.
Yeah, that makes sense A lot ofpeople love walking barefoot on
their very hard tile and woodfloor at home.
So that's where it's not thatit's extremely bad for you, it's
just that it dries your feetmore.

(05:04):
It actually the tile is so hardthat it injures your foot.
Your foot craves support andyou don't get that from a hard
tile floor.
So that's my two cents.
There are other podiatriststhat would argue with me.
But in general, if you reallywant to maintain your foot and

(05:27):
take care of it so you're ripeand old, you got to exercise
where the right shoes.
If you get injured, rest it,okay, don't keep playing, don't
keep running.
They feel like that's where allthe problems happen.
And then just keeping your feetmoisturized and get a foot

(05:53):
massage, helping relax thosemuscles and strengthen them at
the same time, really helpsmaintain your foot.

Jeremy (06:01):
Yeah, sign me up for that foot massage for sure.
So you mentioned earlier.
You said, don't use lotion, usecream, cream.
Why?

Dr. Lauren (06:13):
wouldn't you want to use lotion?
So you know the lotions areactually made with alcohol, so
they dry up faster.
And the foot, the skin of thebottom of the foot, is extremely
thick, so it doesn't really domuch, got it.
And if you have calc, use apomis-stone, trim them, get a

(06:37):
pedicure, come and see me, youknow, put creams on.
You got to take care of thatbecause if you let it go they're
just going to get worse andthey're going to get more
painful.
And really, if you do have calc, the best way to prevent him
from coming on so frequently isa custom orthotic to
redistribute the pressure.

Jeremy (06:59):
Yeah, and I got to say this because this is a common
theme across the board in everyindustry and in life or every
medical profession.
What it all comes down to ifyou want to be more active later
on in life, have less pain,have less problems, take care of
yourself, right.
Don't wait until you're 60 tostart.
Don't wait until you're like myfather, who's you know, 77, 78

(07:21):
years old, and he hasn't done aday of exercise in his life, and
every time he moves it hurts,right.
Exactly so a regiment ofexercise, eat well, all this
stuff.
We talk about this ad nauseam.
It's just so important, butpeople get caught up in their
lives and we live in this.
You know, I always say instantgratification, quick fist
society, and people put thesethings off until it's too late.

(07:44):
So let's raise awareness.
Everybody, take care ofyourself.
Thanks for your insights, ofcourse, very, very useful, and
to our listeners, thanks fortuning in for another episode
and we will catch you next time.
Everyone, have a wonderful dayand take care.

Speaker 1 (08:06):
Thank you for listening to the LMD podiatry
podcast.
For more information, visit LMDpodiatrycom or call
954-680-7133.