Give the Gift of Healthy Feet!

This holiday season, how about a gift that will really make a difference? Something that will help you or the one you love (or both!) actually feel better and be more active?

Hey, we’ve got nothing against a new pair of socks, or a jar of cashews. In fact, go ahead and get those too!

But in our humble opinion, one of the best gifts you can give to yourself or others is the gift of healthy, happy feet.

See, feet have one of the most important jobs in the entire body. Think of how much time you spend each day, each week, each year on your feet: walking, standing, running, working. Basically everything you do all day long requires them. When they hurt, you simply can’t be your best self.

Yet many of us tend to ignore our feet, letting them get beat up and fatigued, and not doing anything to help them until they’re really falling apart.

The good news is a little TLC can go a long way. And at Heartland Foot & Ankle Associates, we maintain a supply of awesome, over-the-counter products that can help you provide that tender, loving care. You don’t even need an appointment—just drop in and let us know what you’re looking for!

The Best Stocking Stuffers for Feet in Need

What could be more appropriate as a stocking stuffer than a foot care product? It just makes sense. They belong together!

And the great news is that we have a little something for just about everyone on your list.

For the Person with Heel Pain

Heel pain is one of the most common symptoms we treat at our office. Yet despite how common it is, and how long someone may have been living with it, a large percentage of cases can be treated with home care; and even cases that require more aggressive professional treatments still feature conservative home care as a component of a comprehensive treatment plan.

We carry a collection of helpful items for people with heel pain, including:

• Powersteps prefabricated orthotics
• Heel cups
• Stretching / physical therapy kits
• Topical analgesics
• Therapeutic shoes

For the Person with Diabetes

High blood sugar places extra risk on feet. Problems like blisters, cracked skin, and ulcers are more common, slower to heal, and potentially more dangerous (even life threatening) if not treated promptly.

But the good news is that most severe diabetic foot complications are very preventable. You just need to be a little extra cautious and a little more vigilant. We have a lot of products that can help make prevention easier and more effective, including:

• Therapeutic shoes
• Cushioned insoles
• Supplements for nerve health
• Moisturizing lotions

For the Person with Dry, Cracking Skin

Dry skin is a constant problem for many—especially during the winter season! Soles don’t have oil glands, relying on sweat to keep them moisturized. This doesn’t always go so well, meaning that feet in particular can dry out fast and feel uncomfortable, itchy, or even painful if deep fissures have formed around the base of the heels.

Fortunately, we have a lot of items that can help restore a healthy, smooth, moisturized appearance and feel to dry skin, such as:

• Moisturizing creams
• Urea creams
• Exfoliating creams
• Pumice stones
• Moisturizing gel socks

For the Person with Fungal Nails (or Athlete’s Foot)

Fungal nails usually aren’t dangerous, but they can be extremely embarrassing—and just as frustrating, since treatment takes a long time and re-infection rates are high. And because the exact same types of fungi also cause athlete’s foot, it’s very common for a person to have both, or for one condition to cause the other.

In many cases—especially when fungal nails are severe—the best option is to make an appointment with us and begin laser therapy treatment. (That may sound scary, but it’s actually really convenient, comfortable, and safe—you can read more about it here.)

But at the same time, at-home treatments and preventative measures are often hugely important for making sure the fungal infection stays gone after you clear it the first time.

We carry products such as:

• Topical antifungals (gels, creams, sprays)
• Shoe sprays
• Germicidal UV light (to keep shoes disinfected)
• Nail softeners and moisturizers
• Dietary supplements to promote healthy nail growth

For the Little Ones

Foot care isn’t just something that adults need to be concerned about. Kids can experience their own unique difficulties, too.

Now, granted, no 6-year-old is going to get excited about pulling a tube of analgesic cream out of a stocking. We’re not suggesting you necessarily wrap these up and put them under the tree, or say they’re from Santa.

But if your child is dealing with foot struggles, being able to help them with simple, practical items and strategies truly is one of the best gifts you can give. Items that can get the job done for common childhood issues include:

• Children’s orthotics
• Stretching / physical therapy kits
• Wart removal kits
• Topical antifungals
• Podiatrist-formulated antifungal / antibacterial nail polish (lots of cool colors!)