Tips to avoid a flip-flop fiasco

This is from the American Podiatric Medical Association website
Do shop for a flip-flop made of high-quality, soft leather. Leather minimizes the potential for blisters and other types of irritation.
Do look for flip-flops that hold APMA's Seal of Acceptance, such as Sole Platinum Sandals. Evaluated by a committee of APMA podiatrists, these products are shown to allow for the most normal foot function and promote quality health.
Do gently bend the flip-flop from end to end, ensuring it bends at the ball of the foot. Shoes of any kind should never fold in half.
Do wear a sturdy pair of flip-flops when walking around a public pool, at the beach, in hotel rooms and in locker room areas. Walking barefoot can expose foot soles to plantar warts and athlete's foot.
Do ensure that you foot doesn't hang off of the edge of the flip-flop
Don't re-wear flip-flops year after year. Inspect older pairs for wear. If they show signs of severe wear, discard them.
Don't ignore irritation between toes, where the toe thong fits. This can lead to blisters and possible infections.
Don't wear flip-flops while walking long distances. Even the sturdiest flip-flops offer little in terms of shock absorption and arch support.
Don't do yard work while wearing flip-flops. Always wear a shoe that fully protects feet when doing outside activities such as mowing the lawn or using a weed-eater.
Don't play sports in flip-flops. This practice can lead to twisting of the foot or ankle, as well as sprains and breaks.

For those interested in the field of Podiatry check out the APMA (American Podiatric Medical Association). website. www.apma.com. It tells you of different fields you can go into, the schools that you can attend and seminars that are available.

Summer Foot Care
Summertime is here and so are sunny days spent splashing in pools and relaxing on the beach. As many vacationers know, summer can cause some extra wear and tear on the body. Educated consumers usually protect themselves by purchasing sunscreen, lip protectants, and sunglasses. But many will forget to look after two of the most important and neglected parts of the body -- the feet.
The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) offers the following key tips on how to protect yourself, especially your feet, from salt water, sand, and other summer scares:
Remember to apply sunscreen to feet, especially the tops and fronts of ankles. Don't forget to reapply if you're in the water!
When out of the water, wash and dry feet thoroughly, especially between the toes, and apply a topical anti-fungal medication on any cracked or itchy skin. Clean, dry feet resist disease.
Pass up sharing towels to avoid developing athlete's foot and other diseases that can easily be spread.
Take special care of toenails, which are especially vulnerable around damp areas. Injury to the nail bed may make it more susceptible to infection so see your podiatrist at first sign of discoloration or infection.
To avoid toe and ankle injuries, wear shoes that are specific to the activity or sport you're participating in. Never play Frisbee in sandals and be sure to wear boots when working outside and mowing the lawn.
Give yourself plenty of time to break in new shoes before going on trips where you'll be doing lots of walking. And when trying on new shoes, make sure you have on the same socks you plan on wearing with them.
When in the ocean, be cautious of jellyfish that often bite at feet and ankles and sharp coral that can cut the undersides of feet. Keeping sandals or water shoes on at all times is a good idea to prevent stings, cuts, and other injuries.
Watch out for prickly sea urchin spines when taking walks on the beach. Avoid walking barefoot; wear an old pair of running shoes or flip-flops to protect yourself from jagged rocks, shells, spines, and debris that could float ashore.
And most importantly, swim, walk, and enjoy the summer!! Walking is the best form of exercise for your feet and swimming is a great alternative for those suffering from tendinitis and plantar fasciitis, which can make other types of exercise painful.
So before heading to the beach or going on vacation, be sure to lather up with sunscreen and check up on your feet. Summertime activities can be especially harmful and any foot problems should be evaluated and treated by your podiatrist. For more information on foot health, visit the APMA's Web site at www.apma.org

CONSERVATIVE FOOT CARE:
Also known as non-surgical treatment, conservative foot care is being used to treat many foot problems with dramatic results. Any initial visit to a podiatrist's office will start with a patient history and physical examination. Diagnostic x-rays and laboratory tests can also be used to help determine the best course of treatment.
Non-surgical treatments may be called for in many cases including medical conditions which preclude the option of elective surgery, time commitment constraints, and elderly patients with many medical conditions. Patients with arthritis, diabetes, and circulatory foot problems may all be helped by non-surgical treatments. In spite of not being able to opt for foot surgery many patients find great relief from pain and discomfort through conservative foot care treatments.
There are a wide variety of non-surgical treatments being used by podiatrists today. Injections, oral and topical medications and foot, ankle, or toe strappings are all examples of conservative foot care. Other options are exercise, custom-made walking shoes and orthotics.
Additional treatments prescribed by podiatrists include physical therapy, foot massage, trimming of corns and calluses, and proper nail trimming and foot care, APC blood platelet injections and ESWT shockwave therapy have had great success in treatments for heel pain.