Do your feet hurt? Would it surprise you to learn that a large percentage of Americans perceive their feet as being ugly ... therefore, that they deserve to hurt? It's almost as if they feel their feet should be punished for not being beautiful.

But foot pain of any kind should never be lightly dismissed. Too often, the pain in your feet can indicate a more serious problem.

Centuries ago, Socrates said, "To him whose feet hurt, everything hurts." Or, as we often hear it stated today, "when my feet hurt, I hurt all over."

That is not just your imagination. It's a medical fact that the discomfort and disabling effects of foot problems often are associated with general systemic conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, or peripheral vascular disease. In many cases, foot problems are the first symptom to show up in such pathologies as vasculitis, psoriasis, diabetes, thyroid disease and a number of neurologic problems affecting the back.

So, foot pain should never be ignored. Early diagnosis may be critical to recovery in many diseases and conditions.

Remember, most people's feet were well designed to do their job ... letting you stand, walk, and run for your entire life. From a biomechanical standpoint, your feet are beautiful and should never be neglected.

If your feet become painful, dysfunctional, or uncomfortable, don't dismiss the symptoms with the thought that feet are just naturally meant to hurt. It simply isn't true. Finding out why your feet hurt should be a number one priority.

Doctors of podiatric medicine specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of all kinds of foot  and ankle conditions.

Can a podiatrist help your foot problems? We make it easy to find out. Here's how....

The physicians and staff of the A Step Ahead Foot & Ankle Centers maintain two complete podiatric clinical facilities and provide 24-hour emergency service. We participate in most health plans including Blue Cross / Blue Shield, Medicare, and Medicaid. We complete and file all necessary insurance forms and make every effort to assure you of maximum benefits with minimum out-of-pocket expense.

You are invited to make an appointment today to relieve your foot problems by calling us at 970-493-4660 or 970-667-0769.