National Foot Health Awareness Month Is Celebrated With Tips On Foot Care
4/4/2017
April is National Foot Health Awareness Month and a time when the experts at the Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine suggest people take a moment to stand up for their feet. According to the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society, the average person takes 10,000 steps each day which adds up to more than three million steps per year.
The Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine treats chronic foot and leg wounds that are often caused by underlying conditions such as diabetes and vascular disease. It is estimated that 25 percent of the 29.1 million people living with diabetes will develop a diabetic foot ulcer and without treatment the wounds can lead to amputation or death.
"The statistics are truly startling when you realize that about 60 percent of non-traumatic limb amputations are performed on people living with diabetes," said Scott Covington, MD, FACS, CHWS, chief medical officer with Healogics, Inc., which manages the Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine specializing in the treatment of chronic wounds and non-responsive conditions.
There are preventative measures everyone can do to improve foot health. The Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine offers the following foot care tips:
- Check your feet for sores or other injuries every day. You may have an injury, but cannot feel the pain.
- Wash your feet every day and dry them with care, especially between the toes.
- Trim your toenails as needed after you’ve washed and dried your feet.
- Wear properly fitting shoes that do not rub or pinch your feet.
- Always wear socks or stockings with your shoes, and never walk barefoot or while wearing just socks.
- Physical activity can help increase circulation in your feet. Consult your healthcare team to see which physical activity is right for you.
The Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine offers comprehensive wound care and leading edge treatments including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, negative pressure wound therapy, bio-engineered skin substitutes, biological and biosynthetic dressings and growth factor therapies.
For more information on the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers or chronic or infected wounds, contact The Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine located at 1400 Bryan Dr., Suite 205 Durant, OK 74701 or call (580) 920-9000.
About Healogics
Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., Healogics is the nation’s largest provider of advanced wound care services. Healogics and its affiliated companies manage nearly 800 Wound Care Centers® in the nation and saw approximately 285,000 new patients in 2015 through a connected network of partner hospitals and Wound Care Centers, academic medical centers, and other post‐acute sites. Healogics utilizes an evidence‐based systematic approach to chronic wound healing to treat an underserved and growing patient population. A fund managed by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, a private investment firm, is the majority shareholder of Healogics. For more information, please visit www.healogics.com.
About AllianceHealth Durant
AllianceHealth Durant is part of one of the state’s largest healthcare systems; AllianceHealth Oklahoma. AllianceHealth Oklahoma combines the strength, resources and quality of 8 hospitals, more than 70 medical practices and six home health agencies. The 4,500 physicians and employees focus on providing high quality, safe care, and the best possible experience for patients. For more information, visit alliancehealthdurant.com. AllianceHealth Durant is owned in part by physicians.
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