\u201cThe human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art,\u201d according to Leonardo da Vinci.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s no disputing that notion, but the original Renaissance man\u2019s admiration aside, the human foot also happens to be an invaluable military tool that, if injured, can cause immense amounts of grief among troops prone to doing a bit of marching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFoot and ankle injuries are prevalent and significant health concerns for military personnel, with potential long-term consequences,\u201d Lt. Col. Michael Taye, chief of podiatry at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and consultant to the Army Surgeon General, told Military Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maintaining foot health, therefore, is of the utmost importance for troops on active duty, Taye added. Failure to do so can result in major issues that linger throughout one\u2019s service or for a lifetime after separating from the armed forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cActive-duty military personnel are particularly susceptible to foot and ankle injuries due to the physically demanding nature of their work, which often involves long marches, running, jumping, and rucking with heavy loads,\u201d Taye continued. \u201cSome of the most common foot and ankle injuries in active-duty service members include ankle sprains, plantar fasciitis, stress fractures, Achilles tendonitis, shin splints, blisters, and ingrown toenails.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fortunately, there are myriad ways to protect the piggies, according to Taye, including wearing properly fitted boots, promptly caring for injuries, and practicing nail hygiene. Proper blister care is also a major component of foot health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And what of the old adage from medics about fresh socks?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe notion that a fresh pair of socks can change the life of a service member is rooted in the practical benefits they provide,\u201d Taye said. \u201cFresh socks can impact a service member\u2019s health, performance, and overall well-being by offering moisture management, temperature regulation, friction reduction, improved hygiene, and comfort and morale boosts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But beyond clean woolens, one of the key measures to preventing long-term damage is to avoid suffering in silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPrompt medical attention and appropriate management are crucial to minimizing the long-term consequences of these injuries,\u201d Taye said. \u201cEarly diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and rehabilitation may improve service members\u2019 prognosis and readiness and reduce the risk of long-term complications.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simply put, if your feet hurt, don\u2019t put a sock in it. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
If you walk a mile in a soldier’s boots, you might worry about their feet.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":107518,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-post-observation-post","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":73,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[100,23,93,73,12,25,13,70],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3305],"class_list":["post-78040","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-home","category-middle-column","category-military-culture","category-news","category-newsletters","category-off-duty","category-your-army"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"W3L6MQINGRHR7DR5MKAENERA6E","arc_canonical_url":"\/off-duty\/military-culture\/2023\/03\/27\/foot-problems-are-common-among-troops-heres-how-to-avoid-injury\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"observation-post","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"\n