One of the most important things is to focus on the health of feet. A Banner Health doctor says people have been neglecting foot health during this pandemic. Dr. Travis Jensen, a podiatrist, has seen an increase in patients who have foot-related medical issues.

“There’s no doubt there’s been a lot of people who have prolonged foot care, whether it be diabetic wounds or ingrown toenails,”  Dr. Jensen said. 

Dr. Jensen says he’s been noticing an uptick in all age groups coming to see him for some type of treatment directly related to having delayed care.

For older patients, reasons include medical conditions such as diabetes and the development of ulcers or wounds. For younger patients, he’s seeing a steady stream of trauma-related injuries. Many middle-aged patients are coming in for help because of stress fractures.

With stress fractures Dr. Jensen explains, “People will develop a hairline fracture or crack. It will show up as a little pain, (but) people will continue to do their normal activities until the foot swells.," Dr. Jensen explained about stress fractures. Some people don’t accept the serious nature of a stress fracture and try to manage the pain and swelling at home. When their symptoms become unmanageable, they realize it’s time to see a podiatrist.

So why could there be so many serious foot injuries now? Dr. Jensen speculates that during the height of the pandemic, many people were inside not being active. As COVID slowed, more people began venturing outdoors and “shocking” their feet with heavy activities, such as running and hiking.

Dr. Jensen recommends some simple things people can do to maintain good foot health year-round. Those include:

• Wearing well-fitting shoes
• Proper hygiene of the feet
• Proper nail care (an area Dr. Jensen often sees being neglected) 
• Seeing a podiatrist or primary doctor if your feet are hurting and you can’t manage the pain

 “If your feet are hurting, then something is bothering them. Don’t neglect it. Make an appointment to have a doctor look at them," Dr. Jensen said.