Treating your feet well would be a good step in the right direction. The average American puts 75,000 miles on his or her feet by age 50, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association. That's a lot of walking, running and standing concentrated on a part of the body that unfortunately many of us give too little thought to, says Dr. Larry Piper, a podiatrist at St. Joseph Foot Clinic.
People ignore the signs of problems.
People are reactive instead of proactive with their health and foot health, and that's how problems develop. Taking care of your feet starts with selecting a good shoe, Dr. Piper says. He says many of the problems he sees in his office can be attributed to shoes that don't fit right. Late afternoon is the best time to buy a shoe because that's the point in the day with the most swelling. And while they may look good, Dr. Piper says high-heeled shoes aren't the best choice for feet.